SOLICITOR-GENERAL

BAE Systems

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Solicitor-General what investigations the Serious Fraud Office has conducted into BAE Systems since 2003; and on what date each  (a) began and  (b) ended.

Vera Baird: There have been five investigations conducted by the Serious Fraud Office into BAE Systems since 2003. All five investigations began on 14 July 2004. The Serious Fraud Office decided to discontinue the investigation into the affairs of BAE Systems as far as they relate to the Al Yamamah defence contract with the Government of Saudi Arabia on 14 December 2006. The other four investigations continue.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Freedom of Information

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many freedom of information requests made to his Department were  (a) answered (i) within 20 days, (ii) within 40 days, (iii) within 60 days, (iv) after 60 days,  (b) not answered and  (c) answered citing an exemption in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as a reason not to provide the requested information in each year since the Act came into force.

David Cairns: The Ministry of Justice has published two annual reports containing statistical information on freedom of information requests received by monitored bodies (including central Government Departments) in 2005 and 2006. These reports can be found at the following address:
	http://www.dca.gov.uk/foi/reference/statisticsAndReports.htm
	The 2007 annual report is currently being drafted for publication in June 2008. However, statistics on requests received in each quarter of 2007 have been published and can be found via the MOJ website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/freedomofinformationquarterly.htm
	The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires public bodies to respond to written requests within 20 working days of receipt, but allows additional time for the consideration of the public interest in disclosing the requested information.
	The published reports provide statistics on the number of "non-routine" requests received during each period where: an initial response was provided within 20 working days; an initial response was given outside this time but a public interest test extension had been applied; an initial response was given outside this time and no public interest test extension was applied, and where no initial response had been given at the time the statistics were collected.
	The 2006 annual report provides statistics on the duration of the public interest test extensions in that year. Corresponding statistics for 2007 will be available when the 2007 annual report is published.
	Information requests where deadlines were extended beyond 40 days is not collected in the form requested; however the proportion of resolvable requests the Department answered "in time" (i.e. meeting the deadline or with a permitted extension) in 2007 was 83 per cent.
	For 2005 and 2006, the reports show the number of requests received by the Department which were withheld, either in full or in part, where an FOI exemption or EIR exception was applied. For 2007, the number of such requests was nine, based on aggregated quarterly statistics from 2007. Requests withheld solely under the exemption applicable to "information available by other means" are not included; statistics on these are not collected centrally because they are dealt with as routine business.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

East of England Development Agency: Fishburn Hedges

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what payments the East of England Development Agency made to Fishburn Hedges in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose in each case.

Patrick McFadden: Since February 2005, Fishburn Hedges have provided the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) with a wide range of consultancy services in support of EEDA's external communications and campaigns. These services have included campaigns development, design, production, printing, copywriting, database development and public affairs consultancy across the organisation.
	Across these services the following total payments were made:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005 81,905.26 
			 2006 168,483.98 
			 2007 217,230.60 
			 2008 21,240.04

Salmon: Imports

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department is taking to maintain the minimum import price for farmed salmon.

Gareth Thomas: The European Commission is currently conducting an interim review of the anti-dumping measures, in the form of a minimum import price, against imports of farmed salmon from Norway. This Department has contributed fully to this review, working closely with the Scottish Executive, the Irish Government and the EU Salmon Producers Group. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has spoken on a number of occasions in support of the measures with Peter Mandelson, the European Trade Commissioner, and Alex Salmond, Scottish First Minister. The outcome of the review is expected during May.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Early Day Motions

Robert Wilson: To ask the Leader of the House what assessment she has made of the use of early day motions by hon. Members.

Helen Goodman: As the hon. Member is aware, the use made of early day motions by hon. Members was considered in the Procedure Committee's First Report of Session 2006-07 (HC 513). The Committee identified a number of broad purposes for which EDMs were used, including: expressing opinions on issues of general public interest, continuing a policy debate, giving prominence to a campaign or the work of a pressure group, and highlighting local issues. The Committee recommended against introducing any new restrictions on the permissible subject matter for EDMs.
	In their response to the Committee (Cm. 7193) in July 2007, the Government agreed with this approach, noting that
	"Members value the breadth of opportunity provided by the right to table an EDM on almost any subject, which enables them to raise a range of constituency or general issues which cannot be raised in other ways".
	The Government have not made any separate or further assessment of EDMs.

Members: PICT

Robert Key: To ask the Leader of the House how many computers in hon. Members' offices provided by PICT are marked with the instruction that they are not to be used after 8 May 2008; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Goodman: Members' computers are included in a Portable Appliances Test (PAT) rolling programme. These appliances are marked with an instruction that they are not to be used after the date by which the next PAT test is scheduled to be completed, in this case 8 May. The programme has commenced in Portcullis House and it is planned to test all appliances prior to the date on each appliance instruction.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Retail Packaging

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government plan to take to reduce the use of packaging by retailers.

Joan Ruddock: European Packaging Regulations are designed to reduce the amount of packaging used by retailers. But slow progress led to a voluntary agreement between Government and retailers, called the Courtauld Commitment, facilitated by the Waste and Resource Action Programme. This agreement aims this year to halt packaging growth and to make absolute reductions in packaging by 2010.

Foot and Mouth

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will provide compensation to swill-feeders in connection with foot and mouth disease.

Jonathan R Shaw: No. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration reported on this issue in December 2007. She concluded that, as the Government have revisited the original decision not to pay compensation many times since 2001, there is no un-remedied injustice which requires reconsideration of the question.

Pitt Review

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how he plans to allocate the £34.5 million to implement the Pitt review's recommendations on flooding.

Hilary Benn: We have announced an initial provision of £34.5 million funding over the three years to 2010-11 which may be needed to implement the Pitt recommendations. We will determine how this should be spent when we see the final Pitt report and the priorities which it contains.

Newt Populations

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been spent on relocating newt populations in the last 12 months.

Joan Ruddock: The costs to individual projects of relocating great crested newt colonies are not centrally recorded; neither is that information collected by Natural England as part of the licensing regime.

Imported Biomass

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the sustainability of imported biomass.

Phil Woolas: I have regular discussions with my ministerial colleagues about biomass issues.
	The UK's Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation came into force on 15 April. Fuel companies must submit reports to the Government on the biofuels they supply, including information on levels of greenhouse gas savings, as well as their environmental and social impacts. This information will be published.

Imported Biomass

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the sustainability of imported biomass.

Phil Woolas: I have regular discussions with my ministerial colleagues about biomass issues.
	The UK's renewable transport fuel obligation came into force on 15 April. Fuel companies must submit reports to the Government on the biofuels they supply, including information on levels of greenhouse gas savings, as well as their environmental and social impacts. This information will be published.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on proposals to protect nitrate vulnerable zones.

Phil Woolas: The Government sought views on the measures in the revised Nitrates Action Programme through a consultation, which ran from August to December 2007. Over 600 responses were received. A comprehensive report summarising the comments made was published on 19 March and is available on the DEFRA website.

Chewing Gum

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will hold discussions with ministerial colleagues in HM Treasury on the use of tax incentives for manufacturers of chewing gum to encourage the development of a biodegradable product.

Jonathan R Shaw: Any decision on taxation is for my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. However, I am not convinced that taxation will solve the problem which is people dropping litter, be it gum or any other type.
	I am pleased to see that Nottingham city council is taking part in this year's chewing gum litter awareness campaign.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues at the Department for Transport on the effect on climate change of transport-related carbon dioxide emissions.

Hilary Benn: I regularly meet with Department for Transport Ministers to discuss ways that the transport sector can contribute to our commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
	The recently published "Towards a Sustainable Transport System" demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring the transport sector plays its full role in tackling climate change.

Ofwat Price Review

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on the 2009 Ofwat price review.

Phil Woolas: The Department has received a range of views about this.

Ofwat Price Review

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on the 2009 Ofwat price review.

Phil Woolas: The Department has received a range of views about this.

Post-Kyoto Agreement

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on an agreement on climate change since the Bali summit.

Phil Woolas: Following the Bali UNFCCC summit all parties to the Convention met in Bangkok last month to agree a workplan for this year on the four areas to be agreed—mitigation, adaptation, technology and finance/investment. In addition ministerial colleagues and I have taken part in several other discussions on achieving a new agreement, including the Major Economies Process, the G8 Gleneagles dialogue and at the OECD. Since Bali I have also had bilateral meetings with many of the key countries to discuss progress.

National Food Supply

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure the security of the national food supply.

Jonathan R Shaw: Food security is about ensuring consumers have access to a stable and adequate supply of food. This requires effective risk management and contingency planning, security of our energy supplies, access to food from a variety of sources and a strong food chain and infrastructure.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the revenue raised through modulation of the single farm payment was spent on in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08.

Jonathan R Shaw: Money raised through modulation of the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) and other direct payments is transferred to Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy and is used to fund rural development programmes.
	Modulation receipts in England from the 2005, 2006 and 2007 SPS schemes years form part of the funding of the England Rural Development Programme 2000-2006 and latterly the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013.
	Further details on modulation expenditure for 2005-06 and 2006-07 can be found in the England Rural Development Annual Reports on the DEFRA website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/docs/ann_rep.htm.
	The Rural Development Programme for England Annual Report 2007-08 will be available in the summer.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value of the modulation element of the single farm payment in England was in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table provides total modulation deductions to date for each scheme year of the Single Payment Scheme:
	
		
			  SPS scheme year( 1)  £ million( 2) 
			 2005 81.47 
			 2006 163.79 
			 2007(3) 251.10 
			 (1) Scheme year refers to claims submitted in that calendar year for which the payment window runs from December to 30 June of the following calendar year.  (2) All figures subject to change as payments are made or adjusted.  (3) Approximately 16 per cent. of the value of 2007 SPS payments remain to be made.

Beekeeping

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department plans to spend on research into bee diseases in the next three years.

Jonathan R Shaw: Detailed allocations for all of DEFRA's programmes have still to be finalised, including those for research. The expectation is that funding for commissioned research into bee health will be around the same level as in previous years. Research priorities are addressed in the draft Bee Health strategy which has been published for public consultation.

Beekeeping

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the incidence of disease in the honeybee population.

Jonathan R Shaw: The National Bee Unit operates a statutory inspection programme for American foul brood, European foul brood and exotic pests which have yet to be found in the UK. It is too early to assess disease incidence this season although there are indications of some significant colony losses across the country which are under investigation.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will hold discussions on the new bovine tuberculosis strategy with the RSPCA.

Jonathan R Shaw: The RSPCA is an important stakeholder and we will keep in touch with them as we continue to develop our policies on bovine TB.

British Waterways: Weber Shandwick Public Affairs

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments British Waterways made to Weber Shandwick Public Affairs in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Jonathan R Shaw: British Waterways have made no payments to Weber Shandwick Public Affairs in respect of its activities in England and Wales in the last five years.

Carbon Emissions: Housing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in meeting the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan target of reducing emissions from the UK's residential housing stock by 31 per cent. on 1990 levels by 2020.

Phil Woolas: As it is less than a year since the adoption of the action plan it is too soon to assess progress towards the 9 per cent. energy-saving target but there have been significant steps forward in the household sector since the action plan was published. These include the commencement of the carbon emissions reduction target on 1 April and the launch, also on 1 April, of the Green Homes Service with funding of £26 million in 2008-09 to help over two million people in its first year to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, choose lower emissions transport, reduce waste and conserve water.

Carbon Trust: Consultants

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments the Carbon Trust made to  (a) Citigate Public Affairs,  (b) Weber Shandwick Public Affairs and  (c) Grayling Political Strategy in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Phil Woolas: The Carbon Trust is a private company limited by guarantee.

English Nature: Citigate Public Affairs

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments English Nature made to Citigate Public Affairs in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Jonathan R Shaw: Citigate were contracted to undertake a parliamentary monitoring service for English Nature, and subsequently Natural England (following the merger of the three founding bodies of Natural England on 1 October 2006), for daily monitoring of parliamentary information.
	
		
			  Citigate payments 
			   £ 
			 2003-04 6,606 
			 2004-05 6,859 
			 2005-06 9,224 
			 2006-07 5,640 
			 2007-08 2,350

Farms: Official Visits

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms he has visited since taking up his position, in each Government region; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: In addition to attending the Royal Show, the Great Yorkshire Show and the Oxford Farming Conference and having a number of meetings with both farmers and their representative bodies, the Secretary of State has visited farms in the following regions:
	
		
			   Farms 
			 North-west 2 
			 East of England 1 
			 South-west 1 
			 London 1

Flood Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will review the powers and responsibilities of internal drainage boards (IDBs) including the opportunity for areas currently not covered by an IDB to opt in to those services.

Phil Woolas: One of Sir Michael Pitt's interim conclusions was that flooding legislation should be updated and streamlined under a single unifying Act of Parliament that, among other outcomes, addresses all sources of flooding, clarifies responsibilities and facilitates flood risk management. DEFRA recognises the force of this argument and is considering current legislation and how it might be improved.

Food: Marketing

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will consider the merits of introducing in England grants for farmers with similar purposes to those of the food processing and marketing grants in place in Wales.

Jonathan R Shaw: Grants for the purposes mentioned by my hon. Friend have already been introduced in England. The Processing and Marketing Grant scheme is an important element in the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-13. It is designed to assist in the achievement of improved competitiveness by boosting productivity, creating enhanced added value and applying innovative technology. It is aimed at Welsh farmers, growers, foresters, food and drink manufacturers and processors. Assistance aimed at providing their English counterparts with the same benefits is provided under Axis 1 of the Rural Development Programme for England, which includes a range of measures designed to increase the competitiveness of the agriculture and forestry sectors. The budget for the whole of Axis 1 is some £250 million over the Programming period 2007-13.

Food: Marketing

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will consider the merits of introducing in England a scheme designed to promote the food production industry similar to the True Taste of Wales programme.

Jonathan R Shaw: As part of our programme to support the quality regional food sector in England, DEFRA has provided funding for a number of award schemes with similar objectives to the True Taste of Wales programme. These include:
	1. The Guild of Fine Foods Retailers' annual Great Taste Awards and associated promotional events, such as Taste British Gold: a two-week in- store promotion featuring gold winners from the Taste Awards
	2. The AA Regional Food Awards aimed at showcasing and encouraging the use of quality regional ingredients and
	3. The Daily Telegraph Taste of Britain awards which are a celebration of good quality local and regional British food.

Hunting: Fines

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will introduce measures under the cross-compliance rules governing the common agricultural policy to deduct payments from landowners who have permitted their land to be used for  (a) illegal poisoning of birds of prey and  (b) hunting with hounds.

Jonathan R Shaw: The cross compliance rules under the common agricultural policy already allow for a reduction in payments for claimants who permit their land to be used for illegal poisoning of birds of prey.
	Hunting with hounds on the other hand is not covered by the statutory management requirements nor identified as one of the 'issues' or 'standards' in the good agricultural and environmental condition framework which member states are obliged to consider under the cross compliance rules.

Meat and Livestock Commission: Weber Shandwick Public Affairs

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments the Meat and Livestock Commission made to Weber Shandwick Public Affairs in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table details the payments, and their purpose, made by the Meat and Livestock Commission to Weber Shandwick Public Affairs in the last five years:
	
		
			  Meat and Livestock Commission 
			  Account  £ 
			  2003-04  
			 Consultancy 8,500.00 
			 Conferences 750 
			 Public relations 275,125.31 
			 Promotional activity—general 51,563.88 
			  335,939.19 
			  2004-05  
			 Consultancy 24,201.16 
			 Meetings-groups 7,834.80 
			 Public relations 163,977.21 
			 Consumer public relations 25,478.65 
			 Agency fees 526.45 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 Public relations 211,746.21 
			 Consumer public relations 93.17 
			 Agency fees 236.8 
			 Food Service 6,764.75 
			 Industry awards 6,421.07 
			  225,262.00

Natural England: Finance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of  (a) the adequacy of the Government's funding of Natural England and  (b) the effect of funding levels on Natural England's ability to support local groups such as the Stroud Valleys Project in Stroud constituency.

Jonathan R Shaw: We announced core funding of £176 million for Natural England in 2008-09 on 21 February. The board of Natural England consider that to be a good settlement in the current financial climate. Decisions on funding for individual projects and grants are a matter for Natural England and its board.
	Securing a healthy natural environment remains a top priority and is one of my Department's two high level goals alongside tackling climate change. Natural England will be a key contributor to this work. I am confident that the budget allocation we have made for this year will enable Natural England to play a major part in delivering those goals.

Natural England: Grayling Political Strategy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments Natural England made to Grayling Political Strategy in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Jonathan R Shaw: Grayling were contracted by Countryside Agency to run a series of seminars/events in 2004-05 relating to the transfer of responsibilities to other Government Offices and Agencies as a result of the Haskins Review.
	
		
			  Grayling payments 
			   £ 
			 2003-04 0 
			 2004-05 93,909 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 0 
			 2007-08 0

Nature Conservation: Climate Change

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps the Government has taken to assess the extent of damage to wildlife resulting from the effects of climate change.

Joan Ruddock: Key impacts of climate change on wildlife have already been observed, including changes in the timings of seasonal events, shifts in the ranges of species, and changes to habitats and ecosystems.
	In 2007, the Government responded, with others, by publishing the guidance "Conserving Biodiversity in a Changing Climate" aimed at those planning and delivering wildlife conservation in the UK. The guidance helps conservation practitioners to build capacity to adapt and, amongst other principles, acknowledges the importance of continued monitoring to enable them to identify and respond to the impacts of climate change on wildlife.
	DEFRA has an ongoing programme of research to assess the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. Last year the results of two projects were published:
	The "MONARCH report (Modelling Natural Resource Responses to Climate Change)" modelled possible changes to some UK species ranges in response to different climate scenarios; and
	"England Biodiversity Strategy"—towards adaptation to climate change which reviewed the scientific evidence and summarised the impacts of climate change on the biodiversity of England.
	A review of the impacts of climate change on migratory species was published in 2005 and we are currently funding further research into identifying migratory species which could be used as indicators to monitor the effects of climate change. DEFRA has invested in the National Biodiversity Network, the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme and the Environmental Change Network which, amongst several other objectives, also provide means of detecting ongoing impacts of climate change on biodiversity.

Radioactive Wastes: Waste Management

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria were used to determine the membership of  (a) the Criteria Proposals Group and  (b) the Criteria Review Panel in respect of geological screening criteria for radioactive waste disposal sites developed by his Department.

Phil Woolas: The two groups were recruited by the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme sponsor bodies (DEFRA, Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Welsh Assembly Government and Northern Ireland) following discussion with, and nominations by, the learned societies—the Royal Society, the Geological Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering.
	DEFRA's Chief Scientific Adviser was also involved and the scientific disciplines sought were geology, hydrogeology and rock mechanics. Membership represented a high calibre mix of academic and industrial practitioners.
	A Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) member participated in the Criteria Proposal Group's work and a technical specialist from the Environment Agency also served on Criteria Review Panel.
	Further information on the Groups' work is available on DEFRA's website.

Rights of Way

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Minister authorised the establishment of the Discovering Lost Ways project; and if he will instigate an investigation into the reasons for the project not achieving its objectives.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Countryside Agency established the Discovering Lost Ways (DLW) Project following publication of the Rural White Paper Implementation Plan of March 2001, using funds provided by DEFRA under the authority of the then Environment Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, West and Royton (Mr. Meacher).
	Section 53 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 provided for the extinguishment, in 2026, of public rights of way that existed prior to 1949, unless recorded by 2026 on the definitive map and statement maintained by the highway authority. The DLW project trialled the use of systematic data collection techniques to fulfil the Government's aim as set out in the 2000 Rural White Paper, of recording of such rights before 2026.
	Natural England, the successor body to the Countryside Agency, has now reviewed the DLW Project. Its investigations found that even this systematic research approach could not remove the requirement for further detailed research into cases by the highway authority, and for a public inquiry to be held whenever the recording of such a right was opposed. As a result it considers there is no prospect of processing of the evidence collected by the 2026 cut-off date and accordingly Natural England is terminating the research contract. I do not consider any further investigation to be necessary.
	Natural England is preparing to convene a Stakeholder Working Group to consider the scope for an agreed package of the reforms in this area. The Government have endorsed this as an appropriate way forward, and will consider any recommendations from the Group in due course, although this does not mean that the Government are, at this stage, committing to further legislative reform. We have written to stakeholders indicating that we will not bring section 53 into effect at least until we know the outcome of this Group's work.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether  (a) the Waste and Resources Action Programme and  (b) his Department has purchased the Handbook on the implementation of Pay as You Throw as a tool for urban waste management produced by Dresden University of Technology.

Joan Ruddock: The Library of my Department advises that it has not purchased a copy, however the handbook was considered as part of the report carried out for DEFRA into "Modelling the Impact of Household Charging for Waste in England". This report is available on the DEFRA website.
	In addition, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) informs me that it has not purchased a copy.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Daycare

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of children in lower-income working families accessing child care through extended schools; and what progress is being made towards meeting the sub-target of his Department's Public Service Agreement target 3.

Stephen Timms: The data requested are not available.
	Information relating to what progress has been made towards meeting this public service agreement target is available in the departmental Autumn Performance Report 2007. This is available in the Library and can also be viewed at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2007/autumnreport/full-report07.pdf
	Figures showing progress towards Public Service Agreement 3 will be available when the results of the 2007 Childcare Survey are published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families later this year.

Disability Living Allowance: Appeals

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time for an appeal against refusal of disability living allowance to be determined was in the latest period for which figures are available; what is the longest time a person has been waiting for an appeal to be heard; how many people have been waiting  (a) three,  (b) six or  (c) more than six months for a hearing; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	Information is compiled for appeals against refusal for disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) together. To separate the two would incur disproportionate cost and therefore the answer has been provided for both DLA and AA.
	The table provides an indication of waiting times. These figures may be slightly overstated due to data reconciliation across two different databases.
	We are unable to provide the longest waiting time for an appellant in a DLA case as the historical data are not robust due to inconsistencies across the aforementioned two databases.
	
		
			  Average length of time and waiting times for an appeal against refusal for disability living allowance and attendance allowance, 2007-08 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Average length of time for an appeal for disability living allowance and attendance allowance 9.5 weeks 
			
			  Number of people waiting:   
			  (a) up to three months 47,875 81 
			  (b) three to six months 10,700 18 
			  (c) more than six months 855 1 
			  Source: The Tribunals Service

Disability Living Allowance: Finance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of disability living allowance  (a) payments and  (b) administration was in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 24 April 2008
	Information on administration costs is not available prior to 2006-07. The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Disability living allowance expenditure 
			  £ million 
			   Nominal terms  Real terms (2008-09 prices) 
			 2003-04 7,582 8,704 
			 2004-05 8,079 9,025 
			 2005-06 8,618 9,428 
			 2006-07 9,155 9,737 
			 2007-08 (Forecast outturn) 9,834 10,129 
			  Source: DWP Expenditure tables. 
		
	
	
		
			  Estimated disability living allowance administration costs 
			   £ million 
			 2006-07 127 
			 2007-08 132 
			  Source: PDCS Management Information.

Disability Living Allowance: Standards

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the  (a) effectiveness and  (b) administration of the disability living allowance.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 24 April 2008
	Disability living allowance remains under continual review to ensure that it continues to provide help with the extra costs that people with disabilities face.
	We are also continually monitoring the way that disability living allowance is administered to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of our customers.
	The introduction of the Pension, Disability and Carers Service will enable us to provide a more integrated and seamless service. We will be introducing a wider programme of reviews and interventions, and will continue to provide improved training for decision-making staff to help ensure the accuracy of disability living allowance awards.

Disability Living Allowance: Standards

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made towards improving the accuracy of estimates for the take-up of disability living allowance amongst disabled people.

Anne McGuire: We commissioned the Policy Studies Institute to investigate possible methods of estimating take-up of disability living allowance. Its initial feasibility study was published in July 2007, "The take-up rate of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance: Feasibility study" DWP report 442 and recommended a survey-based approach, subject to further development and testing of the feasibility. Since then we have commissioned the Policy Studies Institute to continue this approach and work is currently ongoing.

Incapacity Benefits: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will review the process by which assessments are made of whether people with myalgic encephalopathy may receive benefits; what account the process takes of the rate of successful appeals against decisions to deny benefits in such cases; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: We have already reviewed the process for assessing whether people with medical conditions, including myalgic encephalopathy, may receive incapacity benefits.
	The new work capability assessment for employment and support allowance will be a fair, robust and accurate assessment of limited capability for work which takes account of all conditions, including those that are long-term and that fluctuate such as myalgic encephalopathy.
	Updated medical guidance on myalgic encephalopathy for disability living allowance decision makers was published in July 2007. There are no current plans for further revision of the process.
	The process for employment and support allowance and disability living allowance does not take account of the rate of successful appeals. However, we will continue to monitor new research and evidence, including relevant case law, in this area.

Industrial Health and Safety

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of work-related major and fatal injuries per 100,000 employees in each year since 2004; and what progress is being made towards meeting his Department's Public Service Agreement target 5.

Anne McGuire: The following table sets out the published statistics for the years 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.The figures for 2007-08 will be published in autumn 2008.
	
		
			   R ate of reported injury (per 100, 000 employees) 
			   Fatal injury  Major injury  Fatal and major injury 
			 2004-05 0.7 117.9 118.6 
			 2005-06 0.6 110.5 111.1 
			 2006-07(1) 0.7 107.0 107.7 
			 (1) Provisional  Source: RIDDOR 
		
	
	The PSA target five is to improve
	"By 2008, improve health and safety outcomes in Great Britain through progressive improvement in the control of risk in the workplace".
	The PSA target is measured against six sub-targets, including one for fatal and major injuries—a 3 per cent. reduction on the 2004-05 baseline. The HSE publishes a statistics progress report annually. The latest report for the period 2006-07 indicates that for major and fatal injuries HSE is on track to meet the PSA target.

JP Morgan

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department paid to JP Morgan in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of each payment was.

James Plaskitt: Current DWP records extend back to the 2003-04 financial year.
	The annual spend with JP Morgan from 2003-04 is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 0.00 
			 2004-05 136.00 
			 2005-06 120.00 
			 2006-07 863.00 
			 2007-08 10,369.00 
		
	
	In all cases, these payments were made in respect of client facing programmes, in particular, Access to Work—Payments for Support Workers.
	Information is not available for the period prior to 2003 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Pension, Disability and Carers Service: Public Appointments

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what expenditure his Department incurred in recruiting the chief executive of the Pension, Disability and Carers Service.

Anne McGuire: The expenditure—over and above normal DWP staff time—incurred in recruiting the chief executive of the Pension, Disability and Carers Service was £2,350.

Pensioners: Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures the Government has implemented to help pensioners out of poverty since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The Government have introduced a number of measures since 1997 to help older people out of poverty. These include the introduction of the minimum income guarantee and its successor pension credit. We have successively raised the standard minimum guarantee in pension credit by earnings in every year since its introduction. For 2008 we raised the standard minimum guarantee to £124.05—an increase of 4.2 per cent.—more than keeping pace with earnings and prices. The value of the safety net we provide for the poorest pensioners has increased by over a third in real terms since 1997.
	In addition we have introduced winter fuel payments for those aged 60 or over, with a higher amount for those 80 or over. And we will be making an additional payment for winter 2008-09 of £50 for households with someone aged 60-79 and £100 for those with someone aged 80 or over. We have also introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over and made above inflation increases in the basic state pension.
	Between 1996-97 and 2005-06 the number of pensioners in poverty in the UK, after housing costs, has fallen by over a third from 2.9 million to 1.8 million (measured by 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs.) Once housing costs are accounted for, pensioners are less likely to be in poverty than the population as a whole.
	Our commitments in the Pensions Act 2007 to continue to uprate the pension credit standard minimum guarantee in line with earnings over the long term, and to reintroduce the earnings link to basic state pension from 2012, or by the end of the next parliament, will help secure these gains into the future.

Poverty: Inverness

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) children and  (b) pensioners were living in poverty in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available at the constituency level.

Remploy: York

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who made the decision to close the Remploy factory in York.

Anne McGuire: The closure of Remploy's York factory was included in the Remploy modernisation plan. The modernisation plan was approved by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and was announced to Parliament on 29 November 2007.

Remploy: York

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals were working at Remploy in York at the time of its closure.

Anne McGuire: 50 individuals were working at the Remploy factory in York at the time of closure.

Winter Fuel Payments: Disabled

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of extending the winter fuel payment scheme to disabled people under 60 years who are in receipt of  (a) the middle or higher rate care component and  (b) the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance in each of the next five years.

Mike O'Brien: Winter fuel payments were created to give pensioners reassurance that they can afford to heat their homes in winter. It is paid in a lump sum each winter to ensure that money is available when fuel bills arrive.
	Help is already available through disability benefits and the disability premium in income-related benefits in recognition of the extra costs, including heating, which disabled people may have. The extra heating needs of disabled people by and large, arise all year round, not just in the winter months.
	Information is not available in the format requested. Many individuals are in receipt of both a care component and mobility component of disability living allowance (DLA).
	The following table details the estimated cost of extending winter fuel payments to individuals in receipt of some combination of the higher or middle rate care component of DLA and/or the higher rate mobility component of DLA or one of these components on its own.
	
		
			  All under 60 (including children)  2008-09 prices (£ million) 
			  Total cost in each year  
			 2008-09 290 
			 2009-10 290 
			 2010-11 290 
			 2011-12 285 
			 2012-13 280 
			   
			  Total cost over five years 1,435 
			  Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 5 million. 2. Figures are consistent with Budget 2008 Expenditure Forecasts. 3. Figures are based on DLA liveload forecasts for GB which include some cases where the DLA payment is suspended. 4. Figures above include claimants aged under 60 (including children) with high/middle care and/or high mobility component. 5. It is assumed that each claimant is the sole qualifier in the household and is awarded a winter fuel payment of £200. This is likely to over-estimate the total cost as it does not account for any shared payments. 6. Costs in 2008-09 prices fall over time under the assumption of the winter fuel payment being fixed in cash terms.  Source: DWP Forecasts.

Written Questions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to answer question 162349, tabled by the hon. Member for Hertsmere on 6 November, on national insurance numbers.

Stephen Timms: I replied to the hon. Member's question on 13 March 2008,  Official Report , columns 576-77W.

Written Questions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to answer question 162690, tabled by the hon. Member for Hertsmere on 6 November, on national insurance registrations.

Stephen Timms: I replied to the hon. Member's question on 13 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 578-79W.

Written Questions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to answer question 162348, tabled by the hon. Member for Hertsmere on 6 November, on national insurance and non-UK citizens.

Stephen Timms: I replied to the hon. Member's question on 13 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 579-80W.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Education

Harry Cohen: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on ensuring that the 2012 Olympic Games delivers a lasting educational legacy.

Tessa Jowell: I have met with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on a number of occasions to discuss the educational legacy, including the ongoing review of potential options for securing an educational legacy at the site which is currently being led by an independent adviser.

Olympic Games 2012: Land

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what proportion of sites in the post-2012 Olympic Park has been sold off; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The London Development Agency, who own the Olympic park site have not sold off any proportion of the post 2012 Olympic park.

Olympic Games 2012: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister for the Olympics which Welsh companies have registered for the CompeteFor service for the Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: To the end of April, over 323 Welsh businesses have registered on CompeteFor. The names of individual businesses registered on CompeteFor cannot be placed in the public domain, as the CompeteFor terms and conditions provide confidentiality for users. Of the 323 businesses, over a third have five or less employees, and approximately another third have between five and 30. The remaining have over 30 employees. Most of the registered businesses are limited companies, but there have also been registrations from charities, not-for-profit organisations, sole traders, and partnerships.
	The CompeteFor system and the wider 2012 London Business Network have been developed to give businesses up and down the country access to opportunities in the 2012 supply chains. So far the level of take up by Welsh businesses has been low: the 323 figure above represents only 2 per cent. of the total registrations. I would encourage as many Welsh businesses as possible, alongside those in the rest of the UK, to take advantage of these opportunities.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers: Procurement

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has been given of the time it will take to complete the construction of each aircraft carrier once the physical process of construction has begun.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 29 April 2008
	Construction of each ship will take an estimated five and a half years.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what British units in the Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF) will be deployed in  (a) a JRRF capacity and  (b) another capacity between July to December 2008.

Des Browne: The Joint Rapid Reaction Force is a high readiness contingency capability. As such, it is impossible to predict with certainty which units will be employed on what operations in the second half of this year, as new unforeseen operational requirements may emerge.
	Details of the units due to be committed to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are regularly announced, most recently in my written statement of 24 April 2008,  Official Report, column 107WS.

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training exercises have been cancelled because of equipment shortages in each year since 2005.

Bob Ainsworth: Since 2005, no training exercises have been cancelled due to equipment shortages.

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) name,  (b) location and  (c) purpose was of each military exercise held in (i) Canada, (ii) Alaska, (iii) Norway, (iv) Iceland, (v) Greenland and (vi) Russia in which British forces have participated in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2008,  Official Report, column 714W, on armoured fighting vehicles, if he will publish additional figures on  (a) time in use and  (b) mileage coverage.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence Estates: Charities

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid to his Department by charity organisations for the use of its property in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence: Expenditure

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much in near cash terms his Department spent on urgent operational requirements in each year from 2001-02 to 2006-07;
	(2)  how much has been spent on urgent operational requirements in each year since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in another place by my noble Friend, Baroness Taylor, on 14 December 2007,  Official Report,  House of  Lords, column WA85, for the cost of urgent operational requirements approved from 2002 to 2007. UORs approvals for 2007-08 are some £1.6 billion. Full figures for UORs approved in 2001-02 are not held centrally.

European Fighter Aircraft: Costs

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the effect on the public purse of halting further development of the Typhoon Eurofighter.

Bob Ainsworth: No such estimate has been made. The continuing development of Typhoon is necessary to ensure that the aircraft retains its operational edge over its entire planned service life.

Fleet Air Arm: Military Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Fleet Air Arm aircraft were operational at the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by aircraft type.

Bob Ainsworth: Lynx, Merlin and Sea King Mk7 and Mark 4 helicopters are currently deployed overseas on operations. I am withholding information on specific numbers as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of strength of the  (a) 10th and  (b) 14th divisions of the Iraqi Army;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the capability of the  (a) 10th and  (b) 14th divisions of the Iraqi Army to conduct autonomous operations.

Des Browne: 10th Division Iraqi Army continues to demonstrate its ability to conduct autonomous operations within Multi National Division (South East). The current strength is around 11,300 personnel.
	14th Division is making good progress in strengthening its ability to operate either with or without coalition support, although further work is required to develop its capabilities, not least given that it was only formally established in September 2007. The current strength is around 8,400 personnel. UK Military Transition Teams are providing further advice and support to 14th Division to enhance their operational capability.

Lynx Helicopters

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a decision will be made on whether to proceed with the future Lynx project.

Bob Ainsworth: The Department's future plans are under consideration in the current planning round. Any decisions affecting Future Lynx will be announced at the appropriate moment.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration was given to the role of helicopter engineering as a part of the UK's key technologies and capabilities during the production of the Defence Industrial Strategy White Paper.

Bob Ainsworth: Helicopter engineering was considered during the writing of both the Defence Industrial Strategy and Defence Technology Strategy. The White Paper "Defence Industrial Strategy" (Cm 6697) listed helicopter systems engineering as one of the skills necessary to support existing capabilities in the sector. This is also covered in the Defence Technology Strategy. A copy of both strategies is available in the Library of the House.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Cricket: Broadcasting

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had on the broadcasting of Test match cricket for the period from 2010 with representatives of the English cricket squad.

Andy Burnham: I have had no discussions on the broadcasting of test match cricket for the period from 2010 with representatives of the English cricket squad.

Digital Broadcasting

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government is taking to ensure that households  (a) nationally and  (b) in West Lancashire constituency will be able to receive terrestrial television signals following digital switchover in 2012.

Andy Burnham: We do not hold television coverage figures for individual constituencies. However, at switchover, it is expected that UK wide coverage levels for digital terrestrial television (DTT), will reach that of present analogue services, which is 98.5 per cent. of households.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of adding the return path function to the set-top box as part of the digital switchover help scheme;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the proposal that the next wave of the digital switchover help scheme procurement process should include an invitation to market test return path capability.

Andy Burnham: The Emerging Technologies Group (ETG) is responsible for keeping the core receiver requirements for the digital switchover help scheme (DSHS) under review. In recent weeks the ETG has been considering the viability of including return path capability in the DSHS set-top-box. There are however, a number of concerns about this vision, the main one being that there is not an open standard for return paths. The ETG proposes therefore to establish a dialogue with manufactures to explore the scope for the development of an open standard before taking a view on the most practical and economic way forward.

Pubwatch

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support his Department provides for the Pubwatch scheme.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not provide financial support for Pubwatch schemes. The Statutory Guidance, issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, encourages licensing authorities, the police and other agencies to recognise the value of Pubwatch schemes and explicitly asks them to support Pubwatch aims.

Pubwatch

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Pubwatch scheme in reducing the number of occasions when licensing laws are breached.

Gerry Sutcliffe: No assessment has been made. However, we believe that national and local Pubwatch schemes make an important contribution to improved partnership working between the pub industry and the police in tackling alcohol related crime and disorder.

TRANSPORT

A1: Tree Planting

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the number of trees planted in Elmet constituency as a result of the upgrading of the A1 and associated works.

Tom Harris: The number of trees planted in Elmet constituency by the Highways Agency, following the upgrading of the A1 and associated works, is a total of 53,805.

Bus Services: Concessions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what meetings she or her Ministers have had with Members of the Welsh Assembly Government on cross-border concessionary bus travel since January 2007;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library copies of  (a) letters and  (b) emails between Ministers in her Department and the Welsh Assembly Government on cross border concessionary bus travel since January 2007.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 21 April 2008
	 I have not held meetings with Members of the National Assembly for Wales about cross-border concessionary travel between England and Wales, nor has the Secretary of State. The Government's priority has been the implementation of the new England-wide bus concession which came into effect on 1 April. Concessionary travel is a devolved policy area so the schemes in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ from the arrangements in England.
	Regarding correspondence about cross-border concessionary travel between England and Wales, in August 2007 I wrote to the Deputy First Minister (Minister for the Environment and Transport) of the Welsh Assembly Government about plans for the commencement of the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007.
	Officials in the Department for Transport corresponded with their counterparts in Wales during the development of the Concessionary Bus Travel Bill, which received Royal Assent in July 2007, and at this time held discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government about reciprocal arrangements for concessionary travel. There are considerable financial implications which would need to be resolved before mutual recognition could be pursued, although local authorities may continue with any current cross-border arrangements.

Departmental Freedom of Information

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many freedom of information requests made to her Department were  (a) answered (i) within 20 days, (ii) within 40 days, (iii) within 60 days, (iv) after 60 days,  (b) not answered and  (c) answered citing an exemption in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as a reason not to provide the requested information in each year since the Act came into force.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Ministry of Justice has published two annual reports containing statistical information on freedom of information requests received by monitored bodies (including central Government Departments) in 2005 and 2006. These reports can be found at the following address:
	http://www.dca.gov.uk/foi/reference/statisticsAndReports.htm
	The 2007 annual report is currently being drafted for publication in June 2008. However, statistics on requests received in each quarter of 2007 have been published and can be found via the MOJ website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/freedomofinformationquarterly.htm.
	The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires public bodies to respond to written requests within 20 working days of receipt, but allows additional time for the consideration of the public interest in disclosing the requested information.
	The published reports provide statistics on the number of "non-routine" requests received during each period where: an initial response was provided within 20 working days; an initial response was given outside this time but a public interest test extension had been applied; an initial response was given outside this time and no public interest test extension was applied, and where no initial response had been given at the time the statistics were collected.
	The 2006 annual report provides statistics on the duration of the public interest test extensions in that year. Corresponding statistics for 2007 will be available when the 2007 annual report is published.
	Information requests where deadlines were extended beyond 40 days is not collected in the form requested; however the proportion of resolvable requests the Department answered "in time" (i.e. meeting the deadline or with a permitted extension) in 2007 was 90 per cent.
	For 2005 and 2006, the reports show the number of requests received by the Department which were withheld, either in full or in part, where an FOI exemption or EIR exception was applied. For 2007, the number of such requests was 205, based on aggregated quarterly statistics from 2007. Requests withheld solely under the exemption applicable to "information available by other means" are not included; statistics on these are not collected centrally because they are dealt with as routine business.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what her most recent estimate is of the unfunded liability in present value terms of each public sector pension scheme for which her Department is responsible; and on what assumptions for  (a) discount and  (b) longevity the estimate is based;
	(2)  what the unfunded liability in present value terms was of each public sector pension scheme for which her Department is responsible in each year since 1990-91;
	(3)  what the  (a) rate and  (b) cost was of employer contributions for each public sector pension scheme for which her Department has responsibility in each year since 1990-91; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  expenditure would be from increasing the employee contribution to each pension scheme for which her Department is responsible by one per cent.; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has no responsibility for any public sector pension schemes.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in her Department and its executive agencies; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The cash equivalent transfer value of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in the Department for Transport and its executive agencies is £6,205,505. Much of the detail of this is set out in the Remuneration Report, which is part of the Department's accounts.

Departmental Telephone Services

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 43-44W, on departmental telephone services, how much money  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies raised from 0845 and similar cost telephone lines in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The money raised by the Department for Transport and its agencies from 0845 and similar cost telephone lines since the Department was formed in 2002 is set out in the following table. All of these telephone lines are either revenue neutral or the money raised is less than the cost of the service.
	
		
			   Money raised (£)  Comments 
			 DFT (Central) 0 One 0845 line which generates no income 
			
			 DVLA 2002-03—623,539 Has 17 0800, 0870 and 0845 lines—all revenue is from the 0870 lines 
			  2003-04—874,965  
			  2004-05—1,945,131  
			  2005-06—2,423,517  
			  2006-07—2,894,284  
			  2007-08—2,555,102 (year to date)  
			
			 DSA Up to 2002-03—not available Has 4 0870 lines currently being changed to 0300 lines 
			  2003-04—702,326  
			  2004-05—706,399  
			  2005-06—693,254  
			  2006-07—623,284  
			  2007-08—639,048 (year to date)  
			 HA 0 Has 4 0845 and 0870 lines which generate no income 
			
			 MCA 0 Has one 0870 line which generates no income 
			
			 VOSA Up to 2003-04—0 Has 3 0845 and 0870 lines—all revenue is from the 0870 lines 
			  2004-05—10,386  
			  2005-06—63,407  
			  2006-07—72,397  
			  2007-08—62,894 (year to date)  
			
			 VCA 0 Has one 0844 line which generates no income 
			
			 GCDA 0 Has no 0845 or similar lines

Freight: EU Law

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals are being discussed at an EU level on liberalisation of the haulage industry.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In May 2007 the European Commission published a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on access to the market in the carriage of goods by road within the Community to or from the territory of a member state or passing across the territory of one or more member states (recast).
	On 7 December 2007 the Department for Transport (DFT) launched a formal consultation on this proposal. The Consultation Document and the DFT response to consultation replies can be found on the DFT website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/euroadtransportproposals/

Heavy Goods Vehicles

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) UK and  (b) non-UK registered vehicles between 41 and 44 tonnes (i) entered and (ii) exited the UK in each year since 2004.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested by vehicle size is not centrally available. Annual figures on the number of UK registered and non-UK registered heavy goods vehicles leaving the country for 2007 and earlier will be published in the statistical bulletin 'Road Goods Vehicles Travelling to Mainland Europe' on 22 May 2008.

Hire and Reward Licences

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many UK international hire and reward licences were awarded for  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005,  (c) 2006,  (d) 2007 and  (e) 2008.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has awarded the following number of International hire and reward licences:
	
		
			  Standard international hire and reward licences in issue 
			   Goods granted  PSV granted  Total 
			 2003-04 722 163 885 
			 2004-05 839 152 991 
			 2005-06 753 153 906 
			 2006-07 645 117 762 
			 2007-08 559 98 657

Lorries

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in implementing the Government's proposal to charge foreign-registered lorries which use British roads a contribution towards the costs of road maintenance.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 22 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1890W.

Motor Vehicles: Petrol Alternatives

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 24 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2212W, on motor vehicles: petrol alternatives, what her estimate is of the number of forecourts that provide bio-ethanol (E85) for motor vehicles for  (a) commercial vehicles and  (b) private vehicles.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are 23 bio-ethanol refuelling stations in the UK. This information is gathered by the Energy Saving Trust and is not held centrally by Government. It does not differentiate between facilities for commercial and private vehicles.
	Current figures are available on the Energy Saving Trust website at
	www.est.org.uk.

Motor Vehicles: Petrol Alternatives

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 24 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2212W, on motor vehicles: petrol alternatives, how many infrastructure grants have been given to assist the building of refuelling stations  (a) in total,  (b) for natural gas/bio gas,  (c) for hydrogen and  (d) for bio-ethanol.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Since the infrastructure grant programme was launched in 2005 there have been 23 grants given for all station types. They are broken down as:
	natural gas/biogas—five grants awarded;
	hydrogen—no grants awarded;
	bio-ethanol (E85 and E95)—three grants awarded.
	The remaining grants were for electric recharging stations.
	The grants equated to the following numbers of stations:
	
		
			  Fuel type  Number of stations funded  Total funding (£000) 
			 Biogas 1 362 
			 Electric 82 171 
			 E85 Bio-ethanol 18 128 
			 E95 Bio-ethanol 1 33 
			 Natural gas 4 154 
			 Hydrogen 0 0 
			 Total 106 847

Parking: Data Protection

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to ensure that car park management companies which are not members of the British Parking Association, and are therefore not required to comply with the industry code of practice for parking enforcement, are not given access to personal data by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The requirement for private car parking companies who submit requests for vehicle keeper information via electronic channels to be a member of an Accredited Trade Association (ATA) was introduced following public consultation in 2006. The British Parking Association is the only existing ATA for the parking industry. Following the consultation, it was not considered necessary to extend this requirement to those who apply via the manual, paper-based channels due to the fact that each application is considered individually and additional evidence that must be provided.
	DVLA will shortly be undertaking a review of all the new measures introduced in 2006. This review will consider the effectiveness of the current requirements, and all other options available.

Railways: Bicycles

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to encourage train operating companies to allow greater accommodation for cyclists and their bicycles on trains.

Tom Harris: We continue to encourage train operators to carry bikes on trains where possible. The Department for Transport's Cycling Policy document and the rail strategy White Paper published last year set out our policy: train operators should facilitate the carriage of cycles on off-peak services and accept the folding cycles at all times. However, during the peak hours, where capacity is under pressure, it can be in the interests of the majority of passengers not to permit non-folding cycles on board. It is for individual train operators to determine which services cannot accommodate non-folding bicycles and of course to determine the number of bikes which can be carried at other times.
	We want all TOCs to take into account the wider benefits of cycling when considering both investments in cycle facilities and their own rules for carrying cycles. This is particularly important when procuring new rolling stock where space for bicycles must be considered.
	The White Paper also announced the setting up of a Task Force to look into how bike and rail journeys can be better integrated. The Task Force which includes ATOC, Network Rail, Passenger Focus and Cycling England have begun their work and I look forward to hearing about their progress.

Roads: Accidents

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents resulting in  (a) injury and  (b) death occurred in each year since 2001.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of reported personal injury road accidents resulting in  (a) injury and  (b) death in Great Britain from 2001 to 2006 are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Number of accidents resulting in 
			   Injury( 1)  Death( 2)  Total 
			 2001 225,838 3,176 229,014 
			 2002 218,627 3,124 221,751 
			 2003 210,783 3,247 214,030 
			 2004 204,432 2,978 207,410 
			 2005 195,822 2,913 198,735 
			 2006 186,235 2,926 189,161 
			 (1) Seriously or slightly injured. (2) An accident is classified according to the severity of the most severely injured casualty. A fatal accident may therefore also include seriously or slightly injured casualties. 
		
	
	The number of reported personal injury road accidents, by severity from 1979 to 2006 are also available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/172974/173025/221412/221549/227755/315281/personalinjury.xls.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money was spent on road  (a) maintenance and  (b) construction in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 28 April 2008
	The available expenditure data on road expenditure covers both new construction and structural maintenance and does not enable new road construction to be identified as a separated category. The total expenditure on road infrastructure in Great Britain by central and local government for the last five years for which figures are available is given in the following table together with the figures for road maintenance.
	
		
			  Table: Investment in road infrastructure and maintenance 
			  £ million 
			   Total investment in road infrastructure( 1,2)  Great Britain  Total road maintenance( 3)  Great Britain 
			 2001-02 3,688 3,386 
			 2002-03 3,955 3,729 
			 2003-04 3,621 3,999 
			 2004-05 4,126 4,221 
			 2005-06 4,406 4,414 
			 (1) Includes some private investment in road infrastructure, using private public finance contracts. (2) These figures cover new construction, improvements and structural maintenance but exclude routine maintenance. (3) Includes some structural maintenance.  Source: Central and Local Government expenditure in England, Scotland and Wales 
		
	
	Road investment given in the aforementioned table relates to gross capital expenditure on national and local roads. This information is published in Table 1.14 in "Transport Statistics in Great Britain 2007 Edition" (TSGB) which is available on the Department for Transport's website (www.dft.gov.uk).
	Information on expenditure on road maintenance for England and Wales is published in the "National Road Maintenance Condition Survey 2006", which is also available on the Department for Transport's website. Data for Scotland are published in "Scottish Transport Statistics 2007 Edition" by the Scottish Executive available on their website (www.scotland.gov.uk). These sources identify expenditure on structural and routine maintenance, but overlaps in definition mean that there is some double counting with the investment data from Table 1.14 from TSGB.
	In 2006 there was an estimated 398 thousand kilometres of road in Great Britain. Central Government is responsible for the Strategic Road network made up of the Motorways and Trunk A Roads which is about 3 per cent. of this total. The remainder of the public road network is the responsibility of local authorities.

Roads: Tolls

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to involve local authorities in her Department's plans for  (a) a national road pricing scheme and  (b) technology pilots for a national scheme.

Rosie Winterton: No decisions have been taken on a national road pricing scheme. We are committed to examining the technology to see whether we can address people's real concerns about privacy and accuracy. We have invited the private sector to demonstrate how they might run a system of charging for road use according to time of day and route chosen. It is too early to say how local authorities might be involved.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of commercially available speed camera detection systems.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department has not assessed the effectiveness of commercially available speed camera detection systems. However, the Road Safety Act 2006 gives the Secretary of State the power to prohibit by regulations a vehicle being fitted with, or a person using a vehicle carrying speed assessment equipment detection devices. The Government have always made clear that they do not intend to prohibit the use of purely GPS-based devices which identify the location of cameras through publicly available information. They do however wish to prevent the carriage and use of devices which detect or interfere with the operation of speed measuring equipment through other means. The actual devices to be covered by the ban will be the subject of full public consultation before the associated secondary legislation is laid before Parliament.

Transport: North West

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the per capita spending was from the public purse on  (a) roads,  (b) buses,  (c) railways,  (d) cycling,  (e) walking and  (e) air travel in each parliamentary constituency in the north-west in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 30 April 2008
	These data are not available centrally.
	Spending for transport is financed by both central and local government. Information is not available at parliamentary constituency level. Spending by local authorities is collected by Communities and Local Government and relevant data can be found at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/stats/lgfs/2007/.
	Some figures on central Government spending (including grant to local authorities) are available for Government office regional level from the Country and Regional Analysis of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis carried out by the HM Treasury and can be found at:
	http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/finance_spendingstatistics/pes_cra/country_region.cfm

Wheelchairs: Accidents

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were  (a) killed,  (b) seriously injured and  (c) slightly injured in accidents involving powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 28 April 2008
	The Department for Transport does not currently collect national data on the number of accidents involving powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
	In 2006, the Department published research into the use of Class 2 and Class 3 mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs. The research concluded that mobility scooters do not have a significant impact upon safety. However, as mobility scooter usage is likely to increase in the future, the Department is monitoring policy in this area.

HEALTH

Continuing Care: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received continuing care in Suffolk in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: Information on the number of people who received continuing care in the Suffolk Primary Care Trust (PCT) area in each of the last five years can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Organisation  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Central Suffolk PCT No data 52 26 8 n/a 
			 Ipswich PCT No data 100 45 34 n/a 
			 Suffolk Coastal PCT No data 12 15 11 n/a 
			 Suffolk PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a 57 
			 Suffolk West PCT 4 1 17 17 n/a 
			 n/a = Not applicable  Notes: 1. In 2002-03 not all PCTs submitted data. These organisations have been marked as 'no data'. 2. The data are from a snapshot carried out in quarter 4 each year. 3. The data relate to organisations as they existed at the time of the collection. Suffolk Coastal PCT, Ipswich PCT, Central Suffolk PCT and Suffolk West PCT merged to form Suffolk PCT on 1 October 2006.  Source: Department of Health form: local delivery plan return commissioner

Dental Services

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have been issued with negative schedule letters as a result of negative schedule audits in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2006-07; how much dentists were required to pay to the NHS Business Services Authority's Dental Practice Division in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Only dental providers hold contracts with the national health service. Many dentists are not contract holders themselves but work under contract to lead providers. Information on the number of dental providers who have individually received a letter in 2006-07 and 2007-08 is available but could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Data Protection

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 200W, on departmental data protection, if he will include information assurance data on data loss incidents in previous years in his Department's next annual report.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179 and the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Edward Miliband) on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for storage and use of data.
	The interim report of 17 December 2007 committed to put in place a programme to examine and improve data handling procedures. An update on this commitment will be included in the final report, expected spring 2008, and this report will detail the information to be included by Departments on data loss in their annual reports.

Departmental Written Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days it took on average to answer written parliamentary questions tabled by each hon. Member for answer by him in the last six months.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Dietary Supplements: EU Law

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of the Food Supplements Directive on the availability of high potency supplements in the UK.

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Supplements Directive includes provisions for setting maximum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements. Proposals from the European Commission for setting levels are not expected until early 2009. No assessment has been made of the effects of the Food Supplements Directive on the availability of high potency supplements in the United Kingdom. However, the Food Standards Agency is currently developing an initial impact assessment with input from the UK food supplements industry to assess the effects of future proposals for setting maximum levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements, including high potency supplements, under the Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC.

Electronic Government

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether mechanisms are in place to monitor the extent to which his Department's  (a) internal and  (b) external (i) correspondence and (ii) distribution of publications is carried out electronically.

Ben Bradshaw: It is the policy of the Department to provide all publications in electronic format at www.dh.gov.uk, or in the case of internal publications, the departmental intranet, Delphi. The only exception to this is the all-staff magazine, LINK, which is distributed monthly in hard copy via internal post.
	For correspondence from members of the public, the answer is given electronically if received electronically and likewise given in hard copy if received that way. Currently, where hon. Members write to Ministers, even if electronically, the Department always responds with a hard copy.

Fluoxetine: Suffolk

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in Suffolk have been prescribed fluoxetine in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Information is not collected centrally about the number of patients who are prescribed particular drugs. The following table shows the number of prescriptions dispensed for fluoxetine for the primary care trusts (PCTs) that cover Suffolk from 2003-04 to 2007-08.
	
		
			  Number of prescriptions dispensed for fluoxetine in Suffolk 
			  Financial year  Number of items dispensed 
			 2003-04 65,945 
			 2004-05 64,486 
			 2005-06 66,258 
			 2006-07 62,364 
			 2007-08 53,688 
			  Notes: 1. For the years 2003-04 to 2005-06, the figure for Suffolk is a combination of the figures for Central Suffolk PCT, Ipswich PCT, Suffolk Coastal PCT, Suffolk West PCT and Waveney PCT. For the year 2006-07, where PCTs were reorganised in October 2006, the figure for Suffolk is a combination of the figures for the old PCTs listed above and the new Suffolk PCT. For the financial year 2007-08, the figure is for the new Suffolk PCT alone. 2. The figure for 2006-07 does not include prescribing in the area of the former Waveney PCT after October 2006, when the PCT joined the former Great Yarmouth Teaching PCT to become Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT. 3. The figure for 2007-08 includes prescribing for 11 months only (April 2007 to February 2008). Data for the remaining month are not yet available. This figure also excludes prescribing from the former Waveney PCT area, which now forms part of Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT. 4. The PACT system covers prescriptions by general practitioners, nurses, pharmacists and others in England and dispensed in the community in the UK. For data at PCT level, prescriptions written by a prescriber located in a particular PCT but dispensed outside that PCT will be included in the PCT in which the prescriber is based. Prescriptions written in England but dispensed outside England are included. Prescriptions written in hospitals/clinics that are dispensed in the community, prescriptions dispensed in hospitals and private prescriptions are not included in PACT data. It is important to note this as some British National Formulary (BNF) sections have a high proportion of prescriptions written in hospitals that are dispensed in the community. For example, BNF chapter 4, "Central Nervous System", has a proportion of items written in mental health clinics that are dispensed in the community—these prescriptions are not included in PACT data.  Source: Information Centre for health and social care—Prescribing Analysis and CosT tool (PACT)

Folic Acid: Flour

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has received representations from low-volume millers on the application of mandatory fortification with folic acid of bread and flour; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Prior to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board's recommendation for mandatory fortification of flour or bread with folic acid in 2007, a full public consultation was held, enabling a broad range of views to be taken into account. Low volume millers responded to the consultation directly and were also represented via trade associations such as the National Association of British and Irish Millers (NABIM).
	Before and following the consultation, FSA officials held regular meetings with NABIM to collect information and inform industry about latest developments in this area.

Food Standards Agency: Edelman

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what payments the Food Standards Agency made to  (a) Edelman and  (b) Strategem in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Dawn Primarolo: The payments to 'Strategem' during the last five years are listed as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Total for year (£)  Breakdown by Invoice (£)  Payment date  Description 
			 2007-08 15,128.80 240 14 April 2007 Public relations 
			   1,650 30 July 2007 Public relations 
			   1,650 13 August 2007 Public relations 
			   1,650 20 September 2007 Public relations 
			   1,650 8 October 2007 Public relations 
			   1,682 5 December 2007 Public relations 
			   1,650 2 January 2008 Public relations 
			   1,650 14 January 2008 Public relations 
			   1,656.8 18 February 2008 Public relations 
			   1,650 17 March 2008 Public relations 
			 2006-07 2,629.55 2,629.55 12 March 2007 Public relations 
			 2005-06 0 0 — — 
			 2004-05 0 0 — — 
			 2003-04 0 0 — — 
		
	
	The payments to 'Daniel J. Edelman' are listed as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Total for year (£)  Breakdown by Invoice (£)  Payment date  Description 
			 2007-08 3,000 3,000 30 July 2007 Research 
			 2006-07 0 0 — — 
			 2005-06 23,966.50 2,500 22 September 2005 Research 
			   266.50 16 November 2005 Stakeholder relations 
			   10,600 21 November 2005 Stakeholder relations 
			   10,600 21 November 2005 Stakeholder relations 
			 2004-05 0 0 — — 
			 2003-04 0 0 — —

Hospitals: Construction

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many new hospitals were commissioned in each of the last five years; and how many of them were commissioned under the private finance initiative model;
	(2)  how many hospital extensions were commissioned in each of the last five years; and how many of them were commissioned under the private finance initiative model.

Ben Bradshaw: The following tables give details of new hospital schemes (both private finance initiative (PFI) and public capital) which have reached financial close in each of the last five financial years (i.e. starting from 1 April 2003). Summarised descriptions are held centrally for each scheme and are provided, but these do not include details as to which included or comprised an extension to existing facilities.
	We have interpreted "commissioned" as meaning when a scheme signs a contract and begins construction.
	
		
			  PFI schemes 
			  NHS trust  Scheme description  Capital  v alue  (£ million)  Financial close  Operational date( 1) 
			  2003-04 
			 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys New mental health unit at West Park 16 4 July 2003 13 December 2004 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals Closure of Blackburn Royal Infirmary and expansion of Queens Park Hospital 110 9 July 2003 8 July 2006 
			 Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health Elderly mental health services and mental health rehabilitation services 15 11 August 2003 6 June 2005 
			 Derby Hospitals Consolidation of acute services on Derby City General Hospital site enabling the development of a community facility on the Derby Royal Infirmary site 312 12 September 2003 Q2 2008 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals Burnley Phase V hospital development 30 13 October 2003 23 May 2006 
			 North West London Hospitals Modernisation of Central Middlesex Hospital 69 6 November 2003 19 March 2006 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Reprovision of specialist services from the Radcliffe Infirmary to a new build on the John Radcliffe Hospital site 134 19 December 2003 13 January 2007 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals Rationalisation of two sites onto one adjacent to the existing Oldchurch Hospital in Romford 238 15 January 2004 6 December 2006 
			 Newham University Hospital Reprovision of Acute Services from St Andrews to Newham General Hospital 55 27 January 2004 8 July 2006 
			 Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Redevelopment of Mental Health facilities, community care services and crisis homes 83 1 March 2004 13 June 2006 
			 Salisbury Health Care DGH Redevelopment 24 4 March 2004 19 May 2006 
			 Total  1,086   
			  
			  2004-05 
			 Kirklees PCT Provision of six new primary care centres 27 21 April 2004 14 November 2005 
			 Wandsworth PCT Redevelopment of Queen Mary's Roehampton including specialist rehabilitation and amputee services. 75 6 May 2004 10 March 2006 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Reprovision of Mental Health services at St George's Hospital Morpeth 32 10 May 2004 15 May 2006 
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals Partial redevelopment of Stoke Mandeville Hospital 47 21 May 2004 15 April 2006 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Relocation of Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children 36 10 June 2004 25 June 2007 
			 The Lewisham Hospital Redevelopment of University Hospital including the separation of elective and emergency procedures 72 08 July 2004 27 November 2006 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals Regional oncology and cancer centre at St James university hospital 265 15 October 2004 15 December 2007 
			 Cambridge University Hospital Elective Care Centre, Genetics and Diabetes at Addenbrookes 76 27 October 2004 18 May 2007 
			 Hampshire PCT Redevelopment of Lymington Hospital 36 18 November 2004 2 January 2007 
			 Kingston Hospital Redevelopment of Kingston Hospital 33 23 November 2004 3 July 2007 
			 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's Hospitals Major work to provide three hospitals for women, children, adults and specialist eye hospital 512 14 December 2004 Q1 2009 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals New Hadfield wing to replace Victorian Vickers wards 35 19 December 2004 21 April 2007 
			 Nottinghamshire Healthcare Elderly and Mental Health Units 19 23 December 2004 Q2 2008 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT Danetre Community Hospital in Daventry 28 3 March 2005 19 September 2006 
			 Total  1,293   
			  
			  2005-06 
			 The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals Reconfiguration of acute hospital services in Newcastle. Renal and Elderly services at Freeman Hospital. Relocation of Northern Centre for cancer to Freeman. Redevelopment of Royal Victoria Infirmary 299 27 April 2005 Q2 2008 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Neuro Disability Centre 24 21 July 2005 23 April 2007 
			 Sherwood Forest Hospitals Rebuild and refurbishment of the King's Mill site and Mansfield Community Hospital 326 29 October 2005 Q1 2009 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals Relocation of acute services currently spread across three sites onto a single site (which will include a Ministry of Defence MDHU) 236 12 December 2005 Q2 2009 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Integrated cancer centre 129 13 December 2005 Q2 2008 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Reconfiguration of cancer facilities 67 21 February 2006 Q2 2008 
			 Ipswich Hospital Garrett Anderson Treatment Centre 36 27 March 2006 Q2 2008 
			 Total  1,117   
			  2006-07 
			 Barts and the London Acute site rationalisation 1,000 27 April 2006 Q4 2013 
			 St Helens Hospitals Acute Hospital development 338 1 June 2006 Q4 2008 
			 University Hospital Birmingham/Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Single site hospital to replace Selly Oak and Queen Elizabeth Hospitals and provide a new Mental Health Unit (Joint scheme with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health) 627 8 June 2006 Q1 2010 
			 South West Essex Teaching PCT Reprovision of Brentwood Community Hospital 30 29 June 2006 Q2 2008 
			 Taunton and Somerset Cancer Centre 21 28 February2007 Q1 2009 
			 Total  2,016   
			  
			  2007-08 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT New South Holland Community Hospital 29 03 May 2007 Q2 2009 
			 University Hospital of North Staffordshire/Stoke PCT Major new build and reconfiguration at University Hospital site. 375 13 June 2007 Q4 2012 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Rationalisation from two main sites to one at Pinderfields Hospital. Small Unit at Pontefract. 353 22 June 2007 Q2 2010 
			 Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals Reconfiguration of Acute Hospital services 336 29 June 2007 Q1 2012 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital Reconfiguration of Acute Hospital services 144 27 July 2007 Q2 2010 
			 Salford Royal Hospitals New build and refurbishment at Hope Hospital Salford 190 5 September 2007 Q1 2011 
			 Tameside Hospital Integration of services onto one site 109 13 September 2007 Q4 2010 
			 South Essex Partnership Medium and low security Mental Health unit on Runwell hospital site 32 5 October 2007 Q3 2009 
			 Derbyshire Mental Health Services Reprovision of mental health services 36 9 October 2007 Q2 2009 
			 Northamptonshire Healthcare Reprovision of Mental Health services onto single site at Pendereds Hospital 36 31 October 2007 Q1 2010 
			 Walsall Hospitals Improving Children's services and provision of primary care centres 169 3 November 2007 Q1 2010 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services Relocation of Maternity Unit and modernisation of Acute Services including DTC in Chelmsford. 148 6 December 2007 Q32010 
			 Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Replacement of St Lukes hospital offering general and forensic mental health services. 75 12 December 2007 Q1 2010 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Modernisation and reconfiguration from four sites to two at Pembury and Maidstone 304 26 March 2008 Q42010 
			 Total  2,336   
			 (1 )Actual or expected 
		
	
	
		
			  Public capital schemes 
			  NHS  t rust  Scheme description  Capital value  (£ million)  Tender award date  Operational date 
			  2003-04 
			 Imperial College Healthcare Renal centre 25 4 July 2003 December 2004 
			 Royal Wolverhampton Hospital Heart and lung centre 57 1 October 2003 1 September 2004 
			 Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Cardiac centre 45 1 October 2003 1 April 2006 
			 Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Essex heart and lung centre 59 1 November 2003 1 July 2007 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals New theatre and refurbishment of existing theatres 12 12 December 2003 31 March 2005 
			 Southampton University Hospitals Cardiac Centre 53 1 February 2004 31 July 2006 
			 Total  251   
			  
			  2004-05 
			 Plymouth Hospitals South West Cardiothoracic Unit Centre 31 1 April 2004 1 February 2006 
			 The Cardiothoracic Centre Cardiac Centre in Liverpool 49 1 November 2004 1 March2006 
			 Total  80   
			  
			  2005-06 
			 West London Mental Health Women's enhanced medium secure services 27 1 June 2005 30 June 2007 
			 South London and Maudsley New build forensic services (mental health) development at Bethlem Royal Hospital 25 12 September 2005 22 February 2008 
			 Total  52   
			  
			  2006-07 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Cardiac Centre 51 1 August 2006 Q3 2008 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children Reprovision of hospital buildings 75 9 October 2006 Q32011 
			 United Bristol Healthcare/North Bristol Cardiothoracic Centre 64 16 October 2006 Q1 2009 
			 University Hospital of North Staffordshire Maternity and Oncology Unit 55 1 December 2006 Q1 2009 
			 Total  245   
			  
			  2007-08 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Cardiac Centre 29 1 May 2007 Q1 2009 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals Acute Accident Unit 40 14 October 2007 Q2 2009 
			 Total  69

Meat Hygiene Service: Finance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding the Meat Hygiene Service has received in each of the last three years; and how much funding it is proposed to receive in 2008-09.

Dawn Primarolo: The actual net funding cost of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), after charges to industry and Government customers, for the last three financial years together with the provision for 2008-09 (before any exceptional restructuring costs) is listed as follows:
	
		
			   Net operating costs (£ million) 
			 2005-06 31.6 
			 2006-07 33.3 
			 2007-08 42.0 
			 2008-09 32.0 
		
	
	The increased MHS net operating cost in 2007-08 resulted from an MHS Transformation Programme that will implement service delivery changes for all MHS customers. This transformation is continuing into 2008-09 and will reduce future costs. During 2007-08, exceptional transformation costs of £10.8 million were incurred mainly relating to redundancy and redeployment costs. In addition to the projected net operating cost of £32 million in 2008-09, we expect further exceptional transformation costs of up to £8 million.

Meat Hygiene Services: Veterinary Services

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what private companies provided official veterinary services to the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) in 2007-08; and what the cost to the MHS of the services of each such company was in that year.

Dawn Primarolo: The private companies who provided official veterinary services to the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) in 2007-08 are shown as follows:
	Paragon Veterinary Group
	Skeldale Veterinary Centre
	John Highet Ltd.
	Lanes Vet Group
	Midforest Veterinary Practice
	Oaksford and Birch
	Lawrence VMH Ltd.
	G and P. J. Nute
	Crescent Veterinary Clinic
	Old Court Veterinary Practice
	Hook Norton Veterinary Surgeon
	The Avenue Veterinary Centre
	Quarry Veterinary Service
	Michael Gratton
	Mount Services Wellington Ltd.
	Jeffrey Kidner
	Acorn Vets Ltd.
	Paws Veterinary Health Centre
	E.L.L. Williams
	F C I: Food Consultancy and Inspection
	Bodrwnsiwn Veterinary Group
	Bellevue Veterinary Group
	The Crofts Veterinary Centre
	Patrick A. Boyd
	Southern Isles Veterinary Practice
	Armac Veterinary Group
	Onevet and Co.
	Carrick Veterinary Centre
	Hygiene Audit Ltd.
	Malcolm J. Wheeler
	Conanvet
	McTaggart Veterinary Group
	Miller and Swann Veterinary Surgeons
	Strathspey Vets
	Deveron Veterinary Surgeons
	Hector A. Low
	S. A. Goodall
	Eville and Jones Ltd.
	Lerwick Veterinary Practice
	Clyde Veterinary Group
	County Veterinary Group
	Fenton Veterinary Centre
	Harbit and Ryder
	Cranley John
	Carmarthen Veterinary Centre Ltd.
	VMHS Ltd.
	Willows Veterinary Group
	The Corporation of London
	Perriferell Veterinary Services
	Raoul Dowding Veterinary Surgeons
	Scotvet OVS Services
	STA Vets
	ARO Co. Ltd.
	AKER
	Gordon Laboratory Group Ltd.
	Hallmark Meat Hygiene Ltd.
	Grants Veterinary Services Ltd.
	The MHS is unable to disclose the cost of individual contracts because that information is commercially sensitive. The total cost to the MHS of contracting private companies to provide official veterinary services in 2007-08 was £20.9 million.

Medical Records: Databases

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how often data records registered on the National Health Application Infrastructure Service (Exeter) are updated.

Ben Bradshaw: Data records held by the National Health Application Infrastructure Service (NHAIS) are updated electronically on each occasion whenever a business event occurs that requires data to be updated. Nationally, approximately 60,000 patient demographic changes including new registrations, amendments and deductions are made on the NHAIS patient database each working day. Examples include when a patient advises his or her general practitioner practice of a change of home address or change of name following marriage or divorce; or when the NHS Central Register advises NHAIS of the death of a patient following the death being formally recorded by a registrar of births, marriages and deaths.

Medical Records: Databases

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) surveys and  (b) consultations used contact details from the National Health Application Infrastructure Service (Exeter) in (i) 2003-04, (ii) 2004-05, (iii) 2005-06, (iv) 2006-07 and (v) 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: Available information relates only to surveys that have been commissioned directly by the Department. Information is not held centrally about surveys or consultations by primary care trusts (PCTs) or national health service shared services agencies using locally held data.
	Surveys conducted on that basis were:
	the national PCT survey (2003-04 to 2007-08 inclusive);
	the national patient experience survey (2006-07 and 2007-08);
	the general practitioner patient survey (2006-07 and 2007-08);
	Yorkshire and Humber adult dental survey (2007-08); and
	no consultations were conducted on that basis in the years concerned.

Medical Records: Databases

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how data are gathered by primary care trusts for inclusion on the National Health Application Infrastructure Service (Exeter) system.

Ben Bradshaw: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are legally required to maintain a register of patients registered with a general practitioner's (GP's) practice according to the patient's registered address. This legal requirement for a register is met by the National Health Application Infrastructure Service (NHAIS) patient database.
	Most GP practices have a computer system that is linked to local NHAIS systems. Each new patient registration, and all patient demographic changes, are recorded by practice staff, and these changes are notified electronically to the relevant local NHAIS system in order to maintain the patient registers. Non-computerised practices support the maintenance of the NHAIS systems by the provision of paper-based forms.
	NHAIS systems also receive data about patient deaths, patients moving permanently to reside overseas, people moving into the armed services, and removals from the NHS Central Register which is operated by the Information Centre for health and social care.

Medical Treatments

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are taken to ensure that hospital consultants are aware of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence decisions on use of specific treatments in the consultants' area of specialism.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issues quick reference guides to national health service consultants in the relevant specialty, which summarise the conclusions in its guidance. NICE also provides a wide range of practical support through its web-based tools (for example audit criteria) aimed at aiding local implementation. Further information can be found on NICE'S website at:
	www.nice.org.uk/usingguidance/implementationtools/howtoguide/145how_to_guide.jsp

Medicine: Research

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been provided for research into  (a) heart disease,  (b) stroke and  (c) dementia in each of the last five years; and what percentage of the medical and health research budget this represented in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: The available information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Department  Medical Research Council (MRC) 
			   Coronary heart disease  Dementia  Cardiovascular research  Dementia  Stroke 
			 2001-02 n/a 2.9 n/a 6.6 3.9 
			 2002-03 56.2 1.6 n/a 6.6 4.9 
			 2003-04 54.4 1.1 11.1 7.4 4.8 
			 2004-05 60.6 19 9.7 6.2 3.1 
			 2005-06 60.1 18.3 15.6 6 4.7 
			 n/a = not available 
		
	
	Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's research and development budget has been allocated to and managed by national health service organisations. These organisations have accounted for their use of the allocations received from the Department in an annual research and development report. From 2002-03, the reports have identified total, aggregated expenditure on a number of priority areas including coronary heart disease and, from 2004-05, dementia; but not stroke.
	The Departmental figures for dementia for the years from 2001-02 to 2003-04 relate only to national research programme expenditure.
	The MRC is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports biomedical research. The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
	In the absence of a complete set of expenditure data, a comparison with total research and development budgets has not been made.

NHS: Finance

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in the review by the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation of the formula used for revenue allocations; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation has completed its review of the weighted capitation formula used to inform revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs). Ministers are now considering these recommendations and we are planning to announce the outcome alongside allocations to PCTs for 2009-10 and 2010-11 in the summer.

Parkinson's Disease

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of training given to staff in residential care homes on dealing with residents with Parkinson's disease.

Ivan Lewis: It is the responsibility of social care service providers to ensure that their employees are suitably qualified and competent to carry out the duties they are employed to do.
	Joint health and social care national occupational standards set out the skills, knowledge and values required and are used as benchmarks for national vocational qualifications (NVQs).
	The knowledge set for NVQs is job specific and care home workers who are working with residents with Parkinson's, on a regular basis, should have a basic knowledge of the disease as part of their training.

Salt: Health Hazards

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the scientific basis is for the Food Standards Agency's campaign to reduce hypertension by lowering salt intake; and how much the campaign has cost.

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Standards Agency's campaign to reduce salt intakes is based on advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) which is published in their report, Salt and Health (2003). Copies of this publication are available in the Library. SACN considered a wide range of evidence for the relationship between salt and hypertension and concluded that a reduction in the average population salt intake would proportionally lower population average blood pressure levels and confer significant public health benefits by contributing to a decrease in the burden of cardiovascular disease.
	The total cost of the campaign (January 2004 to March 2008) has been £15,227,000. This includes all campaign costs such as advertising, production, research, marketing, public relations, web and partner grants.

Salt: Health Hazards

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the health effects of reducing salt intake for  (a) those who take strenuous exercise,  (b) pregnant women and  (c) the elderly; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2003 showed that the average intake of salt in the United Kingdom adult population was nine grams per day, more than twice the required daily intake of four grams per day for all adults, set by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy in 1991.
	In 2003, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) published its report "Salt and Health", copies of this report are available in the Library. SACN recommended that the average daily intake of salt by all adults should be reduced to six grams per day. SACN found no evidence to suggest that such a reduction in salt intake would have adverse effects on any particular group in the population including pregnant women and the elderly or those who are exposed to conditions that cause extreme sweating.
	Reducing average population salt intake would proportionally lower population average blood pressure levels and confer significant public health benefits by contributing to a reduction in the burden of cardiovascular disease.

Slaughterhouses: Standards

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which abattoirs  (a) were prosecuted by and  (b) received written warnings from the Food Standards Agency in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has informed the Department that they prosecuted the following abattoirs in the last three years:
	 2005
	2 Sisters Premier Division Limited;
	Bradford Halal Meat Company;
	Grove Smith (Turkeys) Limited;
	Harvey Ashworth (Manchester) Limited;
	J H Lambert (Bungay) Limited;
	Kedassia Poultry Limited;
	Muslim Halal Live Chicken and Poultry;
	NJG Halal Slaughtering Limited;
	Traditional Norfolk Poultry Limited; and
	Yorkshire Poultry Products Limited.
	 2006
	C E Partridge and Son Limited;
	E and T Jackson and Sons;
	Frank Bird (Poultry) Limited;
	Harvey Ashworth (Manchester) Limited;
	HCF Poultry Limited;
	Leonard Ames (Ampthill) Limited;
	Oakland Farms Limited;
	Paul Flatman Limited;
	Pembrokeshire Meat Company Limited;
	Saleh Brothers (Poultry Processors) Limited;
	Wakefield Halal Meats;
	West Devon Meat Limited;
	West Scottish Lamb Limited; and
	Yorkshire Poultry Products Limited.
	 2007
	2 Sisters Food Group Limited;
	AS Audhali Farm Gate Fresh Poultry Limited;
	Coast and County Meat Supply Company Limited;
	Gafoor Poultry Products Limited;
	Leicester Farm Fresh Turkeys;
	Medina Meat and Poultry Group;
	M Najib and Sons Limited;
	P J King and Sons;
	Spenborough Abattoir Limited;
	St. Merryn Meat Limited;
	Stockton Butchers Slaughtering Company Limited;
	West Devon Meat Limited; and
	Woolley Brothers (Wholesale Meats) Limited.
	The FSA does not conduct its own prosecutions in Scotland. Cases referred by the FSA to the relevant Procurator Fiscal resulted in successful prosecutions against the following abattoirs:
	 2005
	Wishaw Abattoir Limited
	 2006
	John M Munro Limited;
	Orkney Meat Limited; and
	Wishaw Abattoir Limited.
	 2007
	Mathers (Inverurie) Limited;
	McIntosh Donald Limited; and
	Scotch Premier Meat Limited.
	Written warnings are used in an informal advisory way by the FSA and do not form part of the formal enforcement process. The aim when issuing a written warning is to provide the food business operator with clarification of the legal requirements or to encourage compliance. They are not a criminal sanction and are used as a routine part of the hierarchy of enforcement at approved meat plants. The Meat Hygiene Service, an Executive Agency of the FSA, issued the following number of written warnings in the course of the last three financial years:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2005-06 4,676 
			 2006-07 6,637 
			 2007-08 3,848

Slaughterhouses: Veterinary Services

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many licensed  (a) abattoirs and  (b) meat processing plants require official veterinary attendance.

Dawn Primarolo: Under European Union Food Hygiene Regulations which came into effect on 1 January 2006, veterinary attendance to carry out the prescribed official controls is required in slaughterhouses, cutting plants and game handling establishments. Subject to certain exceptions, these plants are first required to be approved by the Food Standards Agency.
	The number of those establishments in the United Kingdom at 31 March 2008 was as follows:
	
		
			   Slaughterhouses  Cutting plants  
			   Red meat  Poultry  Red meat  Poultry  Combined red meat and poultry meat  Game handling establishment 
			 England 223 89 156 80 162 51 
			 Scotland 37 4 38 0 18 22 
			 Wales 25 5 6 4 22 4 
			 Northern Ireland 13 6 26 6 2 0 
			 United Kingdom Total 298 104 226 90 204 77

PRIME MINISTER

Conferences: Poverty

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister who  (a) was invited to and  (b) attended the Promoting Prosperity: Progressive Governance Summit.

Gordon Brown: A list of attendees is a matter of public record and is available at: http://progov.pm.gov.uk/about/participants/ A copy of this webpage has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister how many people are employed by  (a) the Press Office,  (b) the Policy Unit,  (c) the Speech Writing Unit,  (d) the Research and Information Unit,  (e) the Private Office,  (f) the Strategic Communications Unit and  (g) the Political Office in No. 10 Downing Street.

Gordon Brown: The total number of staff on the No. 10 payroll as at 1 April 2008 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Number at 1 April 2008 
			 Prime Minister's Office 189 
			  Of which:  
			 Private Office (1)13 
			 No. 10 Policy Unit 15 
			 Press Officers (2)7 
			 Strategic Communications Unit (3)8 
			 Research and Information 5 
			 (1) This figure includes those responsible for co-ordinating speech writing. (2) This figure includes one secondee from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. (3) This includes one unpaid adviser. 
		
	
	The staffing and associated costs for my Political Office are met by the Labour party. As has been the case under successive Administrations, marginal costs associated with the Political Office are met from within the overall budget for 10 Downing street.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (HL) 2007-08

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter he sent to hon. Members about the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill; who drafted the letter; whom he consulted before issuing the letter; what responses he has received from hon. Members; if he will place in the Library copies of those responses; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: My letter was sent to all Labour Members of Parliament and is available in the public domain.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Cycling

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department provides  (a) tax-free benefits and  (b) other allowances for their staff to purchase bicycles under the Cycle to Work scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: Currently there is no provision in respect of tax free benefits to purchase a bicycle under the cycle to work scheme. It is anticipated that this facility will be made available later this year when the Department has fully implemented a new HR and pay system. In the meantime the Department has made available an advance of salary to a maximum of £400 should staff wish to purchase a bicycle and associated safety equipment.

Departmental Sick Leave

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many working days were lost by his Department due to stress-related illness in each of the last 24 months;
	(2)  how many of his Department's staff took more than  (a) five,  (b) 10,  (c) 15,  (d) 20,  (e) 25,  (f) 30,  (g) 35 and  (h) 40 days leave due to stress in each of the last five years, broken down by pay grade.

Shaun Woodward: Information on stress is not captured as a defined absence category nor in the format requested; the only figures available capture many other conditions that may not be associated directly with stress. Therefore we are unable to provide the information regarding stress-related illness due to disproportionate cost.
	The health and safety of everyone in the Department is of paramount importance; we have a duty of care to help prevent staff becoming ill and to support them when they are. The Northern Ireland Office already has a series of effective policies and procedures in place which help achieve these aims. These include a welfare service and an independent confidential counselling service that is available 24 hours a day.

Inquiries

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many documents have been passed by  (a) the Royal Ulster Constabulary and  (b) the army to official inquiries into their respective operations in Northern Ireland in the last 28 years.

Paul Goggins: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The PSNI has advised that this information is not recorded centrally, and to provide the answer would incur disproportionate cost.
	 (b) The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has provided the following answer:
	"The MOD has provided a total of approximately 3,500 MOD/Army papers to the Bloody Sunday inquiry, Billy Wright inquiry and the Rosemary Nelson inquiry".

Police: Riot Control Weapons

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Taser guns have been purchased by the police in Northern Ireland; and whether there have been any instances of their use.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable has advised that the Police Service of Northern Ireland is piloting the use of taser and has purchased 18 taser units, six for training purposes and 12 for operational deployment by officers from the Specialist Operations Branch in pre-planned operations. To date taser has not been drawn or fired in operational use.

Public Inquiries

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of  (a) each public inquiry under way in Northern Ireland and  (b) each Historic Enquiries Team investigation has been in each year since 1998.

Shaun Woodward: The costs to the end of March 2008 for each public inquiry under way in Northern Ireland are:
	
		
			  Inquiry  Cost (£ million) 
			 The Bloody Sunday Inquiry 182.4 
			 The Robert Hamill Inquiry 14.49 
			 The Rosemary Nelson Inquiry 24.78 
			 The Billy Wright Inquiry 21.12 
		
	
	The Wright and Hamill Inquiries are operating under the Inquiries Act 2005. The Nelson Inquiry is operating under the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998. The Bloody Sunday Inquiry is operating under the Tribunals Act 1921.
	For the Wright and Hamill Inquiries, the Secretary of State has issued a formal notice under section 40(4) of the Inquiries Act 2005, requiring them to operate within limits for fees and hours worked per week. The Inquiries Act also places a statutory duty on the inquiry chairmen to have regard to the need to avoid unnecessary cost in every decision they make. The Nelson Inquiry, which is not operating under the Inquiries Act, has also been formally instructed to keep within limits.
	I cannot provide the cost of each individual HET investigation. I can confirm that the annual expenditure on HET investigations has been as follows:
	
		
			   Annual expenditure on HET investigation (£ million) 
			 2005-06 4.32 
			 2006-07 6.04 
			 2007-08 7.69

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bangladesh: Storms

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance is being provided to the remaining victims of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh.

Shahid Malik: The total UK Government assistance to Cyclone Sidr for immediate and early recovery in Bangladesh is just over £15 million. This includes on-going support to the Cyclone victims with water supply and sanitation, livelihood regeneration, and housing. This also includes our most recent contribution of £5 million towards the comprehensive Early Recovery Action Plan programme, to be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Bangladesh Government over the next eight to 12 months. This programme will provide housing for 20,000 families, and livelihood regeneration for 180,000 people, as well as infrastructure rehabilitation, in the worst affected villages.
	For the longer term, the Government of Bangladesh have prepared a Comprehensive Damage and Needs Assessment, in close consultation and support with donors, which will set out the long-term proposals for the disaster risk fund: Risk mitigation (riverbank protection, coastal embankments, road upgrades), and disaster preparedness (cyclone shelters, early warning systems).

Developing Countries: Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response he has made to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund assessment that food insecurity could lead to mass starvation and civil unrest amongst many of the world's poorest peoples.

Douglas Alexander: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mr. Crabb) on 30 April 2008,  Official Report, column 285.

Malawi: HIV Infection

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to combat HIV/AIDS in  (a) Malawi and  (b) Thailand.

Gillian Merron: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing £2 million a year to the National AIDS Commission (NAC) which is responsible for leading the response to HIV and AIDS in Malawi, helping people protect themselves from HIV, and supporting orphans and those living with HIV. In parallel, DFID's £100 million grant to the health sector to deliver the Essential Health Package (EHP) includes support for the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS including HIV Testing and Counselling, access to Anti-Retroviral Therapy and other HIV related services. The Global Fund for HIV TB and Malaria has provided over $145 million in Malawi
	 (b) There is no UK bilateral programme for Thailand. Thailand does benefit from DFID's current overall support to the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria which has provided over $122 million in Thailand towards HIV programmes in the last four years.

Pakistan: Females

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government is taking to encourage the involvement of women at all levels in the democratic process in Pakistan.

Shahid Malik: Since 2002 Pakistan has made progress on strengthening the role of women in the democratic process. Most notably this has been through the reservation of 60 seats in the National Assembly and a third of all directly elected seats in local government for women. The Department for International Development (DFID) has supported these reforms through nearly £1 million of assistance to civil society to work with political representatives at all levels. We have also contributed £6 million to the United Nations Development Programme in support of women's empowerment, including the establishment a women's political school that has trained over 20,000 female Councillors. In addition, we have provided extensive support for training and promoting voter awareness during the recent elections. This targeted over 170,000 potential women voters and 5,000 female domestic election observers as part of a £3 million support package.

Rwanda: Overseas Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps the Government has taken to assist sustainable development in Rwanda.

Gillian Merron: Over the last 10 years, the UK has provided £380 million of development assistance to support poverty reduction and the recovery of Rwanda from the legacy of the 1994 genocide. This year, the Department for International Development (DFID) expects to provide £46 million, of which £33 million will be direct budget support to the government directly supporting their sustainable development goals. We have also signed a new health sector budget support agreement worth £12 million over five years to improve maternal and child health outcomes. A further £7.5 million for the period from 2008-12 will support the One UN pilot in Rwanda, designed to improve the delivery effectiveness of the UN, which is focused on sustainable development.
	DFID has also provided significant technical support to the Government of Rwanda in developing its new Poverty Reduction Strategy, known as the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS), which was launched in 2007. DFID's future programme in Rwanda, which will expand by 16 per cent. over the next three years, will focus on building capacity for the implementation of the new strategy.

Sudan: Food Aid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the safety of those delivering World Food Programme supplies in Southern Sudan.

Gillian Merron: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 27 March 2008,  Official Report, column 445W. Since then, hijackings of World Food Programme (WFP) trucks have continued. As of last week, 60 trucks had been hijacked, 39 drivers had been reported missing and 26 remain unaccounted for. As a result of the continuing violence, WFP announced on 17 April that it would reduce rations of cereals, pulses and sugar by half in May. The international community has consistently called on all parties to respect the neutrality of humanitarian agencies. In addition, we continue to press for the full and rapid deployment of the UN-AU peacekeeping force (UNAMID) in Darfur.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Admiralty House

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2564W, on Admiralty House, what guidance his Department issues on the liability of occupiers of official ministerial residences for the cost of cleaning on vacation of the property.

Tom Watson: Departures from Admiralty House are dealt with on a case by case basis.

Buildings: Repairs and Maintenance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what minor works have been undertaken in Downing street  (a) offices and  (b) ministerial residences since the Prime Minister took office.

Tom Watson: Information on refurbishment, maintenance and structural improvements to the Downing street complex will only be available when the Department's resource accounts are fully audited and laid before Parliament.

Departmental Data Protection

Michael Ancram: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what information Departments are required to hold on whether their employees are married to other employees.

Tom Watson: Departments are not required to hold such information.

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the effect on his Department's expenditure would be of increasing the employee contribution to each pension scheme for which his Department is responsible by one per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Watson: Any increase in the employee pension contribution would be met by the employee, and not by the Department.

TREASURY

Banks

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of theExchequer if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the board members of the Financial Services Authority in undertaking regulation of the banking sector.

Angela Eagle: The regulation of the banking sector is ultimately a matter for the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The FSA is independent from the Government although subject to the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA).

Child Trust Fund: Credit Unions

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions apply to the utilisation of child trust funds by parents through credit unions in  (a) England and Wales,  (b) Scotland and  (c) Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The rules by which credit unions must abide to be a child trust fund provider are set out in the Child Trust Fund Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1450) as amended. These rules apply across the whole of the UK.

Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal Implementation Project

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance the Office of Government Commerce provided to, and what contact it has had with  (a) the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency,  (b) the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Personnel and  (c) the Valuation and Lands Agency in relation to the gateway review for the Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal Implementation Project.

Angela Eagle: The Office of Government Commerce has not provided any assistance to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency or the Valuation and Lands Agency. Since 2006, however, the Office of Government Commerce has arranged several OGC Gateway™ reviews for the Department of Finance and Personnel on a number of their projects.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by Senior Civil Service staff in his Department and its agencies in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury and Valuation Office Agency's accounting systems do not hold data on reimbursable expenses by grade and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For information on Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs I refer to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 5 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1055-56W.
	The Government Actuary's Department does not employ any members of the senior civil service and the Royal Mint made no such payments in 2006-07. The following payments were made in 2006-07: Debt Management Office £1,000; National Savings and Investments £15,000; and OGCbuying.solutions £15,000.

Electronic Government

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether mechanisms are in place to monitor the extent to which his Department's  (a) internal and  (b) external (i) correspondence and (ii) distribution of publications is carried out electronically.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury's correspondence handling system electronically records and monitors the majority of correspondence received.
	All Treasury publications are placed on the Treasury's website thereby reducing, where possible, the need for printed copies.

Employment: EU Nationals

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated into the average duration of employment of EU A8 nationals working in the UK since 2004.

Angela Eagle: None.

Endowment Mortgages

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Treasury has investigated the role played by the Financial Services Authority in the regulation of the sale of endowment mortgages.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury has not investigated the role of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the mis-selling of endowment mortgages.
	The FSA has invested in supervisory work to ensure firms handle mortgage endowment complaints in a fair and timely way, including formal enforcement action and fines against some ten major firms for mis-selling mortgage endowments and/or mishandling complaints about them.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2212W, on motor vehicles: petrol alternatives, what the differentials in fuel duty are for  (a) petrol,  (b) diesel,  (c) natural gas/biogas,  (d) hydrogen and  (e) bioethanol; and what changes are planned in these rates for the future.

Angela Eagle: Duty rates are available from HMRC's website at: www.hmrc.gov.uk The current rates are 50.35p per litre for petrol and diesel; 13.70p per kilogram (the equivalent of 9.47p per litre) for natural gas, including biogas and hydrogen used in an internal combustion engine; and 30.35p per litre for bioethanol.
	Budget 2008 announced that the duty differential for natural gas would remain at its equivalent level until 2010, the duty differential for biogas would remain at its current level at least until Budget 2012, and the duty differential for biofuels would cease from 2010, with future support for biofuels being provided under the renewable transport fuel obligation.

Excise Duties: Motorcycles

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors are considered when determining the level of road tax applicable to 125cc motorbikes; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Vehicle Excise Duty for motorbikes is banded under four engine capacity based rates with the lowest rate of £15 applying to bikes with engines not over 150cc capacity.
	In taking taxation decisions as part of the Budget process the Government considers a range of factors including relevant environmental, social and economic factors.

Population: Bridgend

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely effects of migration on population density in Bridgend constituency over the next 10 years.

Paul Murphy: I have been asked to reply.
	Population density in Bridgend rose steadily from 1995 to 2006 as set out in the Chancellor's answer of 3 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2190W and a net inflow of migration has contributed to this. Population projections within Wales, including the analysis of migration trends are a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government but migration patterns are difficult to predict.

Private Finance Initiative

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to monitor the effect of its private finance initiative policies on  (a) value for money and  (b) staff terms and conditions; and what assessment he has made of the effect of private finance initiative projects on staff terms and conditions;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of measures introduced in 2004 to protect the workforce in private finance initiative projects.

Angela Eagle: The 2006 PFI Value for Money Assessment guidance(1) sets out the robust qualitative and quantitative assessment that needs to be undertaken to determine if PFI is a suitable procurement method. In assessing value for money in PFI, all procuring authorities should ensure PFI is used only where it is value for money and is not at the expense of employee terms and conditions. This was reiterated in HMT's recent policy document "Infrastructure procurement: delivering long-term value"(2), which also states that, working with key stakeholders, Government will continue to monitor the impact on staff.
	(1) HMT Guidance on how to assess if a project would deliver value for money under PFI, updated November 2006, available on the HMT website.
	(2) Published alongside the Budget Document in March 2008.

Public Expenditure

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the remit of the Audit Commission to central government spending.

Yvette Cooper: The Comptroller and Auditor General (C and AG) is responsible for audit in central government. The Government have accepted the recommendations of the Public Accounts Commission for improving the accountability and governance of the National Audit Office, which supports the C and AG.

Revenue and Customs: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs staff are employed  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The number of full and part-time staff employed by HM Revenue and Customs in Northern Ireland at 1 April 2008 are as follows:
	 (a) 1,789: full-time
	 (b) 575: part-time

Stamp Duties

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when the scheme for stamp duty tax relief on new zero-carbon homes will expire;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) houses and  (b) flats which will attract the stamp duty tax relief on new zero carbon homes during the scheme's duration.

Angela Eagle: We expect the numbers of qualifying transactions for both houses and flats to be initially low but to rise as more properties eligible to claim the relief go on the market. For example, in December 2007 the Government announced details of 200 new homes to be built to a zero-carbon standard in Hanham Hall, near Bristol. The media release can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/611694
	The stamp duty land tax relief for new zero carbon homes is time limited for five years until 30 September 2012 but before the end of the time limit the Government will review the effectiveness of the relief and consider the case for an extension.

Taxation: Aviation

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2184, on air passenger duty, what representations his Department has received from overseas governments on the legality of the proposed aviation duty.

Angela Eagle: The consultation on the proposed aviation duty closed on 24 April 2008. This consultation considered all aspects of the duty, including basis and scope of the duty, possible exemptions, impact of the inclusion of freight and transit/transfer traffic and the operation of the duty.
	A summary of responses will be published in due course.

Welfare Tax Credits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many complaints about tax credits HM Revenue and Customs received from  (a) hon. Members and  (b) members of the public by (i) telephone, (ii) letter and (iii) e-mail in each month since April 2003;
	(2)  how many  (a) letters,  (b) e-mails and  (c) telephone calls on tax credits have been received by (i) his Department, (ii) HM Revenue and Customs and (iii) the Tax Credit Office from (A) hon. Members and (B) members of the public in each quarter since April 2003.

Jane Kennedy: Overall, the Tax Credit Office (TCO) post room handles around 3.5 to 4 million items of post each year. Quarterly information for the years for which the information is available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Items of post received in Tax Credit Office 
			  Quarter ending  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 June 1,119,000 917,500 998,000 807,500 
			 September 1,210,500 1,069,000 1,173,500 1,211,000 
			 December 948,500 936,000 984,500 793,000 
			 March 924,500 908,000 898,000 (1)637,500 
			 (1) Final quarter to 18 March 2008. 
		
	
	Information separately identifying the number of items of post received from hon. Members and members of the public is not available.
	HMRC does not separately record if complaints are made by letter, in a phone call or by way of an e-mail. For details of the number of people who sent complaints to TCO up to 31 December 2007, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 18 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 374-75W.
	
		
			  2008  Number of complainants (approximate) 
			 January 3,250 
			 February 3,200 
		
	
	Information about the number of complaints sent by right hon. Members and hon. Members in each quarter is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  MP complaints addressed to Tax Credit Office (approximate) 
			  Quarter ending  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 June 800 1,900 1,900 1,650 
			 September 1,250 2,550 2,100 1,500 
			 December 2,250 2,700 2,150 1,650 
			 March 2,900 2,500 2,000 (1)850 
			 (1) Final quarter only to 29 February 2008. 
		
	
	For the number of calls answered each month by the TCO MP hotline up to and including May 2007, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that the then Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, South (Dawn Primarolo) gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 25 June 2007,  Official Report, column 419W. The information requested for 2006-07 and 2007-08 is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Received  Handled  Abandoned 
			 2006-07 17,776 17,360 416 
			 2007-08(1) 12,654 12,452 202 
			 (1) To end of February 2008. 
		
	
	New telephony equipment was introduced to the hon. Members' hotline in October 2005 so the first full year in which information about the number of calls that were abandoned before being answered by an adviser is 2006-07.
	With regard to the number of calls received on the Tax Credits helpline, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today (194486), which shows that monthly figures, to April 2007, have previously been provided. The following table shows this information for those quarters where the full information has not previously been provided.
	
		
			  Quarter ending  Calls received (Thousand) 
			 June 2007 7,080 
			 September 2007 7,303 
			 December 2007 4,305 
		
	
	TCO does not record separately the number of calls it receives from its customers.
	The other information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.
	HM Treasury does not routinely record statistical information on the number of letters, calls or e-mails it receives about tax credits.

Welfare Tax Credits: Telephone Services

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls were  (a) received,  (b) handled and  (c) unanswered by (i) the claimants' and (ii) hon. Members' tax credit hotline in each year since 2003.

Jane Kennedy: With regard to (i) the tax credits helpline, I would refer the hon. Member to previous answers provided by the then Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, South (Dawn Primarolo):
	12 September 2005,  Official Report, column 2407W,
	14 March 2006,  Official Report, column 2137W,
	5 June 2006,  Official Report, column 188W,
	20 June 2006,  Official Report, column 187W,
	25 June 2007, Official Report, columns 418W and 419W,
	31 January 2008,  Official Report, column 682W,
	where elements of the requested information have been provided giving details of calls received, handled, busy/engaged and abandoned for each year to 31 March 2007. The full year figures to 31 March 2008 are not yet available.
	On (ii) calls to the hon. Members' hotline, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today (194467 and 194469).

Welfare Tax Credits: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in Warrington are in receipt of each category of tax credit.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC do not produce statistics separately for child tax credit and working tax credit, however estimates of the number of families with tax credits in 2005-06 in each local authority, based on final family circumstances and incomes, are published in "Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards 2005-06 Geographical Analysis". This publication is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	The information on the number of out-of-work families includes those who are receiving child support through income support and jobseeker's allowance.
	The same information for 2006-07 is due to be published on 20 May 2008.

Wine: Prices

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the evidential basis was for his statement on 12 March 2008,  Official Report, column 298, that the average bottle of wine costs £4.00.

Angela Eagle: This figure has been calculated for a 75cl bottle of wine from market data for the off trade.

JUSTICE

Compensation: Industrial Diseases

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer by the Prime Minister of 12 March 2008,  Official Report, column 276, on compensation for those with pleural plaque, when he expects the consultation to be launched.

Bridget Prentice: The House of Lords judgment on pleural plaques raises very complex issues. We are currently giving serious consideration to all the representations which have been made to us, and are actively exploring how people who have pleural plaques as a result of exposure to asbestos might be supported. We will set out our views as soon as we have analysed all the options.

Custodial Treatment: Young People

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much and what proportion of the Youth Justice Board's budget was spent on  (a) purchasing remand and custodial places for offenders,  (b) grants to local authorities and other bodies to support the development of effective practice and  (c) commissioning research and publishing information in each year since it was established; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Since it was established in 1998 the total YJB budget of £2,939 million has been spent as follows:
	 (a) £1,992 million (68 per cent.) on purchasing remand and custodial places for offenders;
	 (b) £930 million (31 per cent.) on grants to local authorities and other bodies to support the development of effective practice;
	 (c) £17 million (1 per cent.) on commissioning research and publishing information.
	A breakdown of this information is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			  YJB operating expenditure 
			  £ million 
			   Purchasing remand and custodial places  Grants to local authorities and other bodies  Commissioning research  Total 
			 1999-2000 — 29 1 30 
			 2000-01 188 45 2 235 
			 2001-02 208 77 2 287 
			 2002-03 231 118 2 351 
			 2003-04 245 112 2 359 
			 2004-05 249 123 2 374 
			 2005-06 285 128 2 415 
			 2006-07 283 143 2 428 
			 2007-08 303 155 2 460 
			 Total 1,992 930 17 2,939 
			 Total (percentage) 67.8 31.6 0.6 100

Departmental Information and Communications Technology

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 187W, on departmental ICT, how many of the missing or stolen  (a) laptops and  (b) personal digital assistants have been replaced by his Department; and at what cost.

Michael Wills: The Department does not keep a central record of laptops that have been replaced since 2001. As the losses were incurred from different areas across the Department, this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. When items are replaced, they are drawn either from the existing resource pool or new purchases are made through the IT suppliers' contracts.
	Available records show that the personal digital assistant reported lost in 2003 was replaced at a cost of approximately £250.00.

Departmental Written Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many days it took on average to answer written parliamentary questions tabled by each hon. Member for answer by him in the last six months.

Jack Straw: The information requested is in the following tables. It includes questions tabled for answer between 6 November 2007 and 4 April 2008.
	
		
			  Ordinary written questions 
			  MP  Total number of questions tabled  Average time in sitting days for answer 
			 Diane Abbott 2 4.5 
			 Adam Afriyie 4 4.0 
			 Peter Ainsworth 1 5.0 
			 Danny Alexander 4 4.25 
			 David Amess 27 4.63 
			 David Anderson 3 5.40 
			 Janet Anderson 1 3.0 
			 Norman Baker 9 7.67 
			 Tony Baldry 2 4.5 
			 Gordon Banks 1 4.0 
			 Hugh Bayley 4 4.75 
			 Alan Beith 1 24.0 
			 Henry Bellingham 72 4.64 
			 Roger Berry 1 5.0 
			 Peter Bone 1 4.0 
			 Tom Brake 9 5.78 
			 Julian Brazier 1 4.0 
			 James Brokenshire 18 4.44 
			 Jeremy Browne 12 10.42 
			 Malcolm Bruce 2 7.0 
			 Simon Burns 2 2.5 
			 David Burrowes 13 4.92 
			 Paul Burstow 2 7.0 
			 Lorely Burt 1 4.0 
			 Vincent Cable 3 23.33 
			 Ronnie Campbell 7 3.14 
			 Alistair Carmichael 1 6.0 
			 James Clappison 8 3.88 
			 Nick Clegg 1 4.0 
			 Harry Cohen 3 3.33 
			 Jim Cousins 4 9.25 
			 Mary Creagh 1 5.0 
			 John Cummings 4 5.25 
			 Claire Curtis-Thomas 1 4.0 
			 Dai Davies 2 5.0 
			 David Davies 8 4.25 
			 Philip Davies 33 3.82 
			 David Davis 22 ((1))8.18 
			 Andrew Dismore 1 4.0 
			 Jonathan Djanogly 3 7.0 
			 Jim Dowd 1 16.0 
			 David Drew 21 7.0 
			 Alan Duncan 1 4.0 
			 Philip Dunne 7 3.29 
			 Jeff Ennis 2 5.0 
			 Bill Etherington 1 8.0 
			 Nigel Evans 1 13.0 
			 David Evennett 4 6.0 
			 Tim Farron 1 4.0 
			 Lynne Featherstone 8 5.13 
			 Frank Field 2 4.0 
			 Don Foster 2 4.0 
			 Liam Fox 2 4.5 
			 Roger Gale 2 6.0 
			 Edward Garnier 67 5.25 
			 David Gauke 5 5.8 
			 Neil Gerrard 11 7.27 
			 Cheryl Gillan 24 5.08 
			 Linda Gilroy 1 2.0 
			 Julia Goldsworthy 3 19.0 
			 Paul Goodman 2 4.5 
			 James Gray 8 6.13 
			 Damian Green 7 6.14 
			 Dominic Grieve 9 4.33 
			 Nia Griffith 9 3.78 
			 John Gummer 9 6.89 
			 Andrew Gwynne 2 4.5 
			 William Hague 2 3.0 
			 Fabian Hamilton 2 3.5 
			 Philip Hammond 16 12.44 
			 Mike Hancock 8 3.5 
			 Greg Hands 2 4.5 
			 Mark Harper 4 5.25 
			 John Hayes 17 9.29 
			 David Heath 19 7.63 
			 John Hemming 3 3.33 
			 Stephen Hepburn 1 5.0 
			 Nick Herbert 41 4.93 
			 Lady Hermon 18 5.89 
			 Mark Hoban 65 7.4 
			 Philip Hollobone 2 5.0 
			 Kelvin Hopkins 1 1.0 
			 Martin Horwood 1 3.0 
			 Stewart Hosie 1 5.0 
			 David Howarth 1 1.0 
			 Lindsay Hoyle 6 5.5 
			 Chris Huhne 9 7.56 
			 Joan Humble 1 4.0 
			 Mark Hunter 1 3.0 
			 Nick Hurd 25 2.96 
			 Adam Ingram 1 4.0 
			 Stewart Jackson 7 4.29 
			 Sian James 1 3.0 
			 Brian Jenkins 11 6.73 
			 Boris Johnson 9 4.0 
			 David Jones 1 8.0 
			 Kevan Jones 1 4.0 
			 Lynne Jones 7 4.0 
			 Sir Gerald Kaufman 4 4.75 
			 Daniel Kawczynski 1 13.0 
			 Sally Keeble 3 5.0 
			 Fraser Kemp 5 5.8 
			 Robert Key 1 2.0 
			 David Kidney 14 4.14 
			 Susan Kramer 4 6.0 
			 Ashok Kumar 13 6.0 
			 Norman Lamb 2 4.0 
			 Mark Lancaster 3 4.0 
			 Andrew Lansley 2 6.5 
			 David Laws 6 (1)12.66 
			 Oliver Letwin 1 19.0 
			 Tom Levitt 2 5.0 
			 Ian Liddell-Grainger 1 6.0 
			 Elfyn Llwyd 28 4.46 
			 Tim Loughton 4 2.25 
			 Ian Lucas 2 5.0 
			 Denis MacShane 3 4.67 
			 Fiona Mactaggart 5 3.8 
			 Anne Main 6 4.17 
			 Humfrey Malins 29 4.24 
			 John Mann 3 5.0 
			 Francis Maude 20 6.05 
			 Theresa May 11 8.55 
			 John McDonnell 33 5.91 
			 Anne McIntosh 2 6.0 
			 Shona McIsaac 1 1.0 
			 Alan Meale 1 4.0 
			 Patrick Mercer 7 4.29 
			 Anne Milton 6 5.67 
			 Austin Mitchell 8 5.75 
			 Madeleine Moon 2 5.0 
			 Michael Moore 1 7.0 
			 Margaret Moran 14 4.79 
			 Jessica Morden 1 4.0 
			 Julie Morgan 2 5.5 
			 Elliot Morley 1 2.0 
			 Greg Mulholland 3 5.67 
			 Chris Mullin 2 3.5 
			 Denis Murphy 7 6.0 
			 Andrew Murrison 8 5.0 
			 Robert Neill 20 4.8 
			 Brooks Newmark 3 4.0 
			 Stephen O'Brien 2 6.5 
			 George Osborne 3 3.67 
			 James Paice 4 3.75 
			 Owen Paterson 5 4.0 
			 Mike Penning 2 7.5 
			 Eric Pickles 31 2.61 
			 Greg Pope 2 4.0 
			 Gordon Prentice 4 5.0 
			 Adam Price 2 4.0 
			 John Randall 1 5.0 
			 John Redwood 1 4.0 
			 Jamie Reed 1 1.0 
			 Linda Riordan 1 4.0 
			 Angus Robertson 1 6.0 
			 Iris Robinson 1 5.0 
			 Dan Rogerson 9 5.0 
			 Andrew Rosindell 29 3.55 
			 David Ruffley 22 6.23 
			 Bob Russell 5 4.0 
			 Andrew Selous 2 4.0 
			 Virenda Sharma 3 4.67 
			 Barry Sheerman 1 3.0 
			 Richard Shepherd 3 5.0 
			 David Simpson 11 7.45 
			 Keith Simpson 1 5.0 
			 Geraldine Smith 1 5.0 
			 Peter Soulsby 1 5.0 
			 John Spellar 8 6.13 
			 Michael Spicer 1 3.0 
			 Bob Spink 14 10.64 
			 Richard Spring 5 5.2 
			 Anthony Steen 1 32.0 
			 Howard Stoate 3 4.0 
			 Andrew Stunell 1 9.0 
			 Jo Swinson 2 3.0 
			 Hugo Swire 3 4.67 
			 Dari Taylor 2 7.0 
			 David Taylor 2 8.5 
			 Matthew Taylor 1 5.0 
			 Sarah Teather 8 6.5 
			 Mark Todd 5 4.6 
			 Jon Trickett 3 3.0 
			 Andrew Tyrie 8 4.0 
			 Ed Vaizey 1 5.0 
			 Shailesh Vara 7 7.43 
			 Keith Vaz 7 6.86 
			 Theresa Villiers 6 6.5 
			 Rudi Vis 33 5.61 
			 Charles Walker 5 6.6 
			 Michael Weir 6 8.83 
			 Bill Wiggin 2 10.0 
			 Roger Williams 4 (1)8.75 
			 Phil Willis 1 8.0 
			 Jenny Willott 74 (1)5.19 
			 David Wilshire 2 4.0 
			 Pete Wishart 2 5.5 
			 Mike Wood 10 4.5 
			 David Wright 1 5.0 
			 Tony Wright 1 5.0 
			 Richard Younger-Ross 2 4.0 
			 Total 1,468 5.60 
		
	
	
		
			  Named day questions 
			  MP  Total number of questions tabled  Average time in sitting days for answer 
			 Danny Alexander 1 4.0 
			 Graham Allen 1 1.0 
			 James Arbuthnot 3 2.67 
			 Gordon Banks 5 1.0 
			 Celia Barlow 1 1.0 
			 John Baron 6 1.0 
			 Hugh Bayley 1 1.0 
			 Tim Boswell 1 1.0 
			 James Brokenshire 4 1.0 
			 Annette Brooke 2 1.0 
			 Jeremy Browne 2 1.0 
			 Angela Browning 4 1.75 
			 Colin Burgon 4 1.0 
			 Simon Burns 12 2.0 
			 David Burrowes 20 1.1 
			 Paul Burstow 1 3.0 
			 Dawn Butler 1 1.0 
			 Stephen Byers 2 2.0 
			 Gregory Campbell 1 1.0 
			 Jeremy Corbyn 2 1.0 
			 Patrick Cormack 1 2.0 
			 Jim Cousins 1 2.0 
			 Stephen Crabb 3 1.0 
			 Jim Cunningham 15 1.13 
			 David Davies 1 1.0 
			 David Davis 5 5.8 
			 Jim Devine 1 1.0 
			 David Drew 2 1.5 
			 Jonathan Djanogly 8 1.0 
			 Iain Duncan-Smith 1 4.0 
			 Louise Ellman 4 2.0 
			 Tobias Ellwood 1 1.0 
			 Jeff Ennis 1 1.0 
			 Nigel Evans 25 3.28 
			 Tim Farron 1 1.0 
			 Lynne Featherstone 1 1.0 
			 Frank Field 4 3.0 
			 Don Foster 1 7.0 
			 Christopher Fraser 1 1.0 
			 Roger Gale 3 1.33 
			 Edward Garnier 25 3.88 
			 Andrew George 5 1.0 
			 Neil Gerrard 5 1.4 
			 Cheryl Gillan 15 1.0 
			 Paul Goodman 1 3.0 
			 Robert Goodwill 2 3.5 
			 Justine Greening 1 1.0 
			 Andrew Gwynne 1 1.0 
			 Stephen Hammond 1 1.0 
			 Mike Hancock 1 1.0 
			 Mark Harper 2 1.0 
			 Evan Harris 1 1.0 
			 John Hayes 1 14.0 
			 David Heath 7 4.71 
			 John Hemming 1 1.0 
			 Nick Herbert 55 2.53 
			 Philip Hollobone 3 1.0 
			 Martin Horwood 1 1.0 
			 David Howarth 3 1.0 
			 Chris Huhne 9 (1)8.33 
			 Brian Iddon 1 1.0 
			 Adam Ingram 6 1.33 
			 Michael Jack 1 1.0 
			 Stewart Jackson 19 1.05 
			 Helen Jones 4 2.25 
			 Kevan Jones 1 1.0 
			 Eric Joyce 1 1.0 
			 Sally Keeble 2 2.0 
			 David Kidney 2 1.0 
			 Greg Knight 3 1.0 
			 Susan Kramer 3 1.0 
			 Tony Lloyd 1 1.0 
			 Elfyn Llwyd 9 1.33 
			 Tim Loughton 1 6.0 
			 Ian Lucas 1 4.0 
			 Andrew Mackinlay 3 1.0 
			 Angus MacNeil 1 3.0 
			 Humfrey Malins 5 1.4 
			 John Mann 1 1.0 
			 Rob Marris 3 1.0 
			 Chris McCafferty 1 1.0 
			 Sarah McCarthy-Fry 1 1.0 
			 John McDonnell 7 1.71 
			 Jim McGovern 1 45.0 
			 Anne McIntosh 1 1.0 
			 Shona McIsaac 1 1.0 
			 Chris Mole 1 1.0 
			 Greg Mulholland 6 2.67 
			 Mark Oaten 4 3.75 
			 Richard Ottaway 1 1.0 
			 Stephen Pound 1 1.0 
			 Adam Price 2 1.0 
			 John Robertson 2 1.0 
			 Dan Rogerson 3 1.67 
			 Paul Rowan 1 1.0 
			 Chris Ruane 3 1.0 
			 Bob Russell 11 1.0 
			 Adrian Sanders 1 1.0 
			 Andrew Selous 3 1.33 
			 Sion Simon 1 1.0 
			 Marsha Singh 1 1.0 
			 Angela C. Smith 1 1.0 
			 Geraldine Smith 2 1.0 
			 Nicholas Soames 1 1.0 
			 Helen Southworth 1 1.0 
			 Michael Spicer 1 2.0 
			 Bob Spink 4 1.0 
			 Anthony Steen 3 1.0 
			 Gary Streeter 2 1.0 
			 Graham Stringer 2 1.0 
			 Desmond Swayne 1 1.0 
			 Jo Swinson 1 1.0 
			 David Taylor 4 9.0 
			 Paddy Tipping 1 1.0 
			 Andrew Turner 2 1.0 
			 Andrew Tyrie 1 14.0 
			 Rudi Vis 1 1.0 
			 Steve Webb 2 1.5 
			 Hywel Williams 5 1.4 
			 Phil Willis 1 1.0 
			 Jenny Willott 4 5.5 
			 David Winnick 1 1.0 
			 Derek Wyatt 4 1.0 
			 Total 459 2.25 
			 (1) Includes PQs unanswered as at 29 April 2008.

Dogs: Animal Welfare

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions there were for dog fighting in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: The information held by my Department on court proceedings does not contain information about the circumstances behind each case other than the information that may be gleaned from the offence itself. As a result offences involving illegal dog fighting cannot be separately identified from other offences of animal cruelty under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, nor can it be separated from offences of 'animal fighting' under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Electoral Register

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on the system of electoral registration; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Since November 2007 my Department has received 105 representations about the system of electoral registration, including access to the electoral register, franchise arrangements for overseas voters and reducing the voting age to 16. I have personally written to 54 Members of Parliament in response to these representations. During the same period, I have also answered 25 parliamentary questions relating to electoral registration.

Non-molestation Orders

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have applied for a non-molestation order since 1 July 2007.

Bridget Prentice: From 1 July 2007 to 31 March 2008, 11,915 applications for a non-molestation order were made to county courts.

Prison: Paganism

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to Prison Service Instruction 2005/33, on the practice of paganism in prison, how many wands are available in prisons in  (a) England,  (b) Wales and  (c) Northern Ireland.

Maria Eagle: This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Prison Service policy is to enable prisoners of different faith traditions, including Paganism, to practise their religion. Guidance on the practice of religion in prisons is set out in Prison Service Order (PSO) 4550 (Religion), a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
	The PSO contains details of religious artefacts which are allowed in possession for relevant faiths so that prisoners can practise their religion within the constraints of good order and discipline. The information on Paganism was developed in consultation with the Pagan Federation and enables prisons to facilitate its practice properly and responsibly. The religious artefacts for Pagan prisoners include a flexible twig for a wand.
	Information on prisons in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Prisoners: Early Release

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many early release offenders who have been recalled since June 2007 are still at large; what steps are being taken to apprehend them; and what offences they were convicted of.

David Hanson: The end of custody licence was introduced on 29 June 2007. Eligible prisoners serving between four weeks and four years may be released under licence from prison up to up to 18 days before their automatic release date.
	All prisoners released on ECL are liable to recall if they are reported to have misbehaved during the period of the licence. A decision to recall an offender from ECL lies with the governors of establishments, and it is the responsibility of the establishments to ensure the police are notified that the prisoner's ECL licence has been revoked and the offender is to be returned to custody.
	Between 29 June 2007 and 29 February 2008, 745 offenders were notified as recalled, following their release on ECL. This equates to 4 per cent. of those released on ECL. As of 21 March 2008, 612 (82 per cent.) of these offenders had been returned to custody, while 133 (18 per cent.) had not yet been returned to custody. The offences for which those 133 offenders were convicted, are listed in the following table:
	
		
			  Offence category  Number 
			 Violent offences against the person 38 
			 Burglary 36 
			 Robbery 4 
			 Theft 51 
			 Fraud 5 
			 Drug 9 
			 Driving 9 
			 Other 52 
		
	
	The police local to the area where the offender was living will be notified of the recall of the offender by the Governor of the releasing establishment. Arrest and return to custody of those offenders is an operational matter for the police.
	Information about end of custody licence releases and recalls is published on a monthly basis on the Ministry of Justice website at
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/endofcustodylicence.htm
	The latest report was published on 31 March and refers to February as the reporting month.

Prisoners: Early Release

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effects on prisoners of being released early.

David Hanson: During the year 2006-07 there were 4,285 offenders subject to Post Release Licence (offenders serving 12 months or more and those under 22 years of age). Of these 246 (5.7 per cent.) were recalled following an allegation of a further offence.
	The Home Detention Curfew Scheme (HOC) began in 1999. It is applied to prisoners serving sentences of between three months and under four years who meet the eligibility criteria. It allows prisoners to live outside prison providing they do not breach the rules of their curfew. Approximately 148,000 prisoners have been released on HDC since the scheme began. 85 per cent. complete their curfew successfully. About 4 per cent. are reported to re-offend during the curfew period.
	The End of Custody Licence Scheme (ECL) came into effect on 29 June 2007. Prisoners serving sentences of four weeks or more but less than four years who meet the eligibility criteria are released under licence up to 18 days earlier than they would otherwise be released. Between 29 June 2007 and 31 March 2008 about 23,700 prisoners have been released under the scheme. Of those released NOMS have been notified that about 3 per cent. have been recalled and just 1 per cent. have been notified as allegedly offending during the ECL period.
	All prisoners who are subject to HDC/ECL including those who are not subject to Post Release Licence are liable to recall if they are reported to have misbehaved during the HDC/ECL period.
	During the HDC/ECL period offenders who are subject to Post-Release Licence are required to meet their Offender Manager after release and to have regular contact after that in line with Probation Service National Standards. During the HDC/ECL period prisoners are encouraged to seek employment and training and to engage with relevant community resources. These measures apply only to those who have accommodation to go to.

Prisons

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many new prison blocks have been commissioned in each of the last five years; and how many of them were commissioned under the private finance initiative model;
	(2)  how many new prisons have been commissioned in each of the last five years; and how many of them were commissioned under the private finance initiative model.

David Hanson: 27 new prison accommodation units, which are now in use, have been commissioned since the 2003-04 financial year. Of these, two are in contracted prisons.
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of units in public sector prisons  Number of units in contracted prisons 
			 2003-04 3 2 
			 2004-05 5 0 
			 2005-06 0 0 
			 2006-07 15 0 
			 2007-08 2 0 
		
	
	The contract signature for conversion works to commence at HMP Kennet, a public sector prison, took place in the financial year 2006-07. No other contracts for new prisons have been signed in the last five financial years.

Prostitution: Prosecutions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many men aged  (a) 40 to 49,  (b) 50 to 59,  (c) 60 to 69,  (d) 70 to 79 and  (e) 80 years and above were prosecuted for offences relating to prostitution in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) offence and (ii) police force area.

Maria Eagle: The information requested covering offences relating to prostitution is provided in the following tables.
	The figures given relate to males for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  Number of males aged 40-49 proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences related to prostitution, by police force area and offence class, England and Wales 1997 t o  2006( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Procuration  Child prostitution and pornography( 5) 
			  Police force area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2004  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset 1 — 1 — 1 — — — 2 — 1 — — 
			 Bedfordshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 — — 1 — — — — — — — 1 1 
			 Cheshire — — — — — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 City of London — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cleveland — — — — — 1 — 1 — — — — — 
			 Derbyshire 1 — — — — — 1 — — — — — — 
			 Devon and Cornwall — — — — — 1 — 1 — — — 1 — 
			 Dorset 1 — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Durham — — — — — — — — — 1 — — — 
			 Essex — — — — — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Gloucestershire — — — — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester — — 2 — 2 — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Hampshire — 1 — — 1 1 — — — 1 — 1 — 
			 Hertfordshire — — — — 1 — 1 — — — — — — 
			 Humberside — — — — — — — — — 1 — — — 
			 Kent — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Lancashire 1 — 1 — — — — — — — — — 1 
			 Leicestershire — — 1 — — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Merseyside 1 1 — — — — 3 — — — — 1 1 
			 Metropolitan Police 2 2 1 1 1 5 2 5 1 1 — 1 — 
			 Norfolk — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 North Yorkshire 1 — — — — 1 — — — — — — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Northumbria — — — — — — — 2 — — 1 1 — 
			 Nottinghamshire — 2 1 1 — — — — — — — — — 
			 South Yorkshire — — — 1 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Staffordshire 2 — — — — 1 — — — 1 1 1 — 
			 Suffolk — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Sussex — — — — — — — — — — — 2 — 
			 Thames Valley — 1 — — — — — — 1 — — 1 — 
			 West Mercia — — 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — 
			 West Midlands 2 1 1 1 3 3 1 3 1 — — 1 1 
			 West Yorkshire — — — — 1 — — 3 1 — — 1 1 
			 Wiltshire — — — — 2 — — — — — — — — 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1 — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Gwent — 1 1 — — 1 — — — — — — 1 
			 North Wales 2 — 1 — — — — — — — — — — 
			 South Wales 1 — — — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			   
			 England and Wales 17 9 11 5 14 14 8 17 6 5 5 14 6 
		
	
	
		
			   Brothel keeping 
			  Police force area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset 1 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Bedfordshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cambridgeshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cheshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 City of London — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cleveland — — — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Derbyshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Devon and Cornwall — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dorset — — — — — — — — — 1 
			 Durham — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Essex — — — — — — — — — 1 
			 Gloucestershire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Hampshire 1 — — — — — — 2 — — 
			 Hertfordshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Humberside — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Kent — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Lancashire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Leicestershire — — — 1 — — — — — 1 
			 Merseyside — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Metropolitan Police — — 1 1 — — — 1 — 3 
			 Norfolk — — — — — — — — — — 
			 North Yorkshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Northumbria — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Nottinghamshire — — — — — — — — — 1 
			 South Yorkshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Staffordshire — — — — — — — — — 2 
			 Suffolk — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Sussex — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Thames Valley — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Mercia — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — — — — — — 1 1 — — 
			 West Yorkshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Wiltshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dyfed-Powys — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Gwent — — — — — — — — — — 
			 North Wales — — 2 — — — — 1 — — 
			 South Wales — — — — — 1 — — — — 
			
			 England and Wales 2 1 3 2 — 1 1 6 — 9 
		
	
	
		
			   Kerb c rawling 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset 5 1 1 — 1 4 1 1 — 2 
			 Bedfordshire — — — — 3 1 1 — — — 
			 Cambridgeshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cheshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 City of London — — — — — 10 9 3 2 1 
			 Cleveland 1 15 22 47 40 33 52 43 31 26 
			 Derbyshire — — — 2 8 11 8 1 6 — 
			 Devon and Cornwall — — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Dorset 6 1 1 2 2 2 1 — — 3 
			 Durham — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Essex 5 3 2 10 1 — 1 — 1 — 
			 Gloucestershire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester 24 14 5 18 9 6 5 9 5 6 
			 Hampshire 5 2 5 6 8 1 — 3 5 — 
			 Hertfordshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Humberside — — — — — 1 — — 1 — 
			 Kent — — 1 — 3 3 — 2 1 1 
			 Lancashire 1 1 — 1 — 7 — 1 1 — 
			 Leicestershire — 2 1 — 1 3 — — — — 
			 Merseyside 3 — — — 12 — — — 3 2 
			 Metropolitan Police 49 68 67 62 72 138 103 130 99 107 
			 Norfolk 19 17 5 — 1 1 1 — — — 
			 North Yorkshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — 2 5 8 7 12 10 
			 Northumbria — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Nottinghamshire 13 16 12 13 14 7 1 2 3 3 
			 South Yorkshire 2 1 1 1 6 18 10 4 3 — 
			 Staffordshire 4 3 — — 6 13 3 9 4 — 
			 Suffolk — — — — — — — — 3 — 
			 Sussex — — — — — 4 1 2 — — 
			 Thames Valley — — — — — — — 4 — 1 
			 West Mercia — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands 30 19 23 4 11 16 17 8 25 26 
			 West Yorkshire 11 6 8 5 12 44 29 6 11 7 
			 Wiltshire — — — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Dyfed-Powys — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Gwent — — — — — — — — — — 
			 North Wales — — — — — — — — — — 
			 South Wales — — — — — 1 — — 1 — 
			
			 England and Wales 178 169 154 171 213 329 251 236 217 195 
		
	
	—continued
	
		
			  Number of males aged 50-59 proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences related to prostitution, by police force area and offence class, England and Wales 1997 to 2006( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Procuration  Child prostitution and pornography( 5) 
			  Police force area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2004  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset 1 — — 1 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Bedfordshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cambridgeshire — — — — — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Cheshire — 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 City of London — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cleveland — — — 1 — 4 — — — — — — — 
			 Derbyshire 1 — — — — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Devon and Cornwall — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dorset — 1 — — — — 1 — — — — — — 
			 Durham — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 — — 
			 Essex — — — — — — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Gloucestershire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester 1 — — — — — — — — 1 — — — 
			 Hampshire — — 3 1 — — 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Humberside 1 — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Kent — — — — 1 — 3 — — — — — — 
			 Lancashire 2 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 
			 Leicestershire — — — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 
			 Merseyside — 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Metropolitan Police 4 — 1 2 — 1 2 4 — 1 — — — 
			 Norfolk 1 — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 
			 South Yorkshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Staffordshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Suffolk — — — — 2 — — — — — — — — 
			 Surrey — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Sussex — — — — — — — — — 2 — 1 — 
			 Thames Valley — — — 1 — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Mercia 1 — — — — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — — 1 1 — — — — — 1 — 1 — 
			 West Yorkshire — — — — 1 — — — — 1 — — — 
			 Wiltshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dyfed-Powys — 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 North Wales — 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 South Wales — — — 1 — — — 2 — — — — — 
			   
			 England and Wales 13 5 5 8 4 5 7 8 2 7 3 3 2 
		
	
	
		
			   Brothel keeping 
			  Police force area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Bedfordshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cambridgeshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cheshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 City of London — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cleveland — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Derbyshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Devon and Cornwall — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dorset — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Durham — — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Essex — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Gloucestershire — — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Greater Manchester — — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Hampshire — 1 — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Humberside — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Kent — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Lancashire — — — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Leicestershire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Merseyside — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Metropolitan Police — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Norfolk — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Nottinghamshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 South Yorkshire — — — 1 — — — — — — 
			 Staffordshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Suffolk — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Surrey — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Sussex — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Thames Valley — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Mercia — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Yorkshire — — — — 1 1 — — — 1 
			 Wiltshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dyfed-Powys — — — — — — — — — — 
			 North Wales — — — — — 1 — — — — 
			 South Wales — — — — — — — — — — 
			
			 England and Wales — 1 — 1 1 2 — 2 3 1 
		
	
	
		
			   Kerb crawling 
			  Police force area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset 2 — — — — 4 2 — 1 3 
			 Bedfordshire 1 — — 1 1 — 2 — — — 
			 Cambridgeshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cheshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 City of London — — — — — 1 2 — 1 2 
			 Cleveland 3 4 13 16 16 18 19 36 20 11 
			 Derbyshire — — — 1 4 2 1 2 2 — 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dorset 1 4 1 4 7 2 1 — — 1 
			 Durham — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Essex 1 4 4 5 3 — — — — — 
			 Gloucestershire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester 16 5 1 9 2 3 3 4 8 5 
			 Hampshire 2 1 — 2 1 1 1 — 1 3 
			 Humberside — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Kent — — 1 — 1 1 — — — 3 
			 Lancashire — 1 1 — 1 3 3 3 — 1 
			 Leicestershire 1 1 — — — 1 1 — — — 
			 Merseyside 1 1 — 1 8 1 — — — 3 
			 Metropolitan Police 24 35 27 28 26 31 33 36 42 27 
			 Norfolk 6 2 2 3 — — 1 1 — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — 3 — 5 3 4 2 
			 Nottinghamshire 12 5 9 5 6 2 — 1 2 — 
			 South Yorkshire — 1 — 1 6 8 15 2 3 — 
			 Staffordshire 1 2 — — 2 9 2 1 3 2 
			 Suffolk — — — — — — 1 1 2 1 
			 Surrey — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Sussex — — — — 2 3 — 1 — — 
			 Thames Valley — — — — — — 1 3 1 — 
			 West Mercia — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands 9 13 4 4 11 8 11 11 7 10 
			 West Yorkshire 6 6 5 3 6 15 20 6 11 3 
			 Wiltshire — — 1 — — 1 — 2 — — 
			 Dyfed-Powys — — — — — — — — — — 
			 North Wales — — — — — — — — — — 
			 South Wales — 2 — — — 3 — 1 1 — 
			
			 England and Wales 87 87 69 83 106 117 124 114 109 77 
		
	
	—continued
	
		
			  Number of males aged 60 and over proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences related to prostitution, by age group, police force area and offence class, England and Wales 1997 to 2006( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Procuration  Child prostitution and pornography 
			  Age group and Police force area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2004  2005  2006 
			  60-69  
			 Avon and Somerset — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Bedfordshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cambridgeshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cleveland — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Derbyshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dorset — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Durham — — — — — — 3 — — — — — — 
			 Essex — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester — — 1 — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Hampshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Kent — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Lancashire 2 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 
			 Leicestershire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Merseyside — — — — — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Metropolitan Police — 2 — — 1 1 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Norfolk 1 — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Nottinghamshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 South Yorkshire 1 — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Staffordshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Sussex — — — — — — — — 1 — — 1 — 
			 Thames Valley — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — — — — — — 1 — — — — — 1 
			 West Yorkshire — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Wiltshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dyfed-Powys — 1 — — — — — — — — — — - 
			 South Wales — — — — — — — — — — — — - 
			 Total 4 3 3 — 2 1 5 — 1 1 — 2 2 
			   
			  70-79  
			 Cleveland — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Hampshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Lancashire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Metropolitan Police — — — — — — — — — — — 1 2 
			 Norfolk — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Nottinghamshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 South Yorkshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Staffordshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Thames Valley — — — 1 — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Yorkshire — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Total — — — 1 — — — — — — — 1 2 
			   
			  80 and over  
			 Cleveland — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Suffolk — — — — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Total — — — — 1 — — — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			   Brothel keeping 
			  Age group and  p olice force area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  60-69   
			 Avon and Somerset 1 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Bedfordshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cambridgeshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cleveland — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Derbyshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dorset — — 1 — — — — — — — 
			 Durham — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Essex — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Hampshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Kent — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Lancashire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Leicestershire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Merseyside — — 1 — — — 1 — — — 
			 Metropolitan Police 1 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Norfolk — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Nottinghamshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 South Yorkshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Staffordshire — — — — — — — — — 2 
			 Sussex — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Thames Valley — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — 1 — — 1 — — — — — 
			 West Yorkshire — — — — — — — — — 1 
			 Wiltshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Dyfed-Powys — — — — — — — — — — 
			 South Wales — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Total 2 1 2 — 1 — 1 — — 3 
			
			  70-79   
			 Cleveland — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Hampshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Lancashire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Metropolitan Police — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Norfolk — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Nottinghamshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 South Yorkshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Staffordshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Thames Valley — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Yorkshire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Total — — — — — — — — — — 
			
			  80 and over   
			 Cleveland — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Suffolk — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Total — — — — — — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			   Kerb crawling 
			  Age group and  p olice force area  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  60-69   
			 Avon and Somerset — — — — — 2 — — — — 
			 Bedfordshire — — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Cambridgeshire — — — — — — 1 — — — 
			 Cleveland 1 — 3 7 2 3 4 6 3 3 
			 Derbyshire - — — — 2 — 3 — 1 1 
			 Dorset 1 — — — — — 1 — — 1 
			 Durham — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Essex 1 — — 1 1 — — — — — 
			 Greater Manchester 2 4 — 1 2 2 1 1 5 4 
			 Hampshire 1 — — 1 — — 2 — — — 
			 Kent — — — 1 — — — — — — 
			 Lancashire — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Leicestershire — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Merseyside 1 — — 1 1 — — — — 1 
			 Metropolitan Police 12 6 11 8 12 10 10 20 7 6 
			 Norfolk 1 2 1 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — 1 2 1 4 2 
			 Nottinghamshire 2 5 — 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 
			 South Yorkshire 1 — — — — 5 3 — 1 2 
			 Staffordshire — — — — 1 1 2 1 — — 
			 Sussex — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Thames Valley — — — — — 1 — — 1 — 
			 West Midlands 3 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 7 4 
			 West Yorkshire 1 4 — — 2 7 12 3 2 — 
			 Wiltshire — — — — — — 2 — — — 
			 Dyfed-Powys — — — — — — — — — — 
			 South Wales 1 — 1 — — — — — — — 
			 Total 28 23 18 23 26 35 47 36 34 25 
			
			  70-79   
			 Cleveland — 1 — — — — 3 2 — — 
			 Greater Manchester — — — — — 1 1 — — — 
			 Hampshire — — — 2 — — — — — — 
			 Lancashire — — — — — — — 2 — — 
			 Metropolitan Police 2 1 2 — — — 4 2 1 1 
			 Norfolk 1 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Northamptonshire — — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Nottinghamshire — — 1 — 2 1 — — — — 
			 South Yorkshire — — — — 1 — 1 1 1 — 
			 Staffordshire — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Thames Valley — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands 1 2 — — — 1 — — 1 1 
			 West Yorkshire — — — — 1 5 2 — — — 
			 Total 4 6 3 2 4 8 11 7 4 2 
			
			  80 and over   
			 Cleveland — — — — — — — — — 1 
			 Suffolk — — — — — — — — — — 
			 West Midlands — — — — — — — — — 1 
			 Total — — — — — — — — — 2 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Staffordshire Police Force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table. (3) Where a police force is not displayed in the table there were no defendants proceeded against for the offence from 1997 to 2006 within that force area. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (5) Data not available for years prior to 2004 as offences under this category are under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which came into force on the 1st May 2004. The statute replaced many of the procuration offences in the table from 2004 onwards.  Source: Court Proceedings Database - Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice

Protection of Badgers Act 1992: Prosecutions

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of those prosecuted under the provisions of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 received custodial sentences, excluding suspended sentences, in each year since its introduction.

David Hanson: The requested information is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Number sentenced( 1)  for offences under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, all courts, England and Wales 1992  to  2006 
			   Total sentenced  Immediate custody 
			 1992 — — 
			 1993 31 2 
			 1994 35 6 
			 1995 33 3 
			 1996 23 5 
			 1997 29 10 
			 1998 10 — 
			 1999 28 4 
			 2000 20 — 
			 2001 36 — 
			 2002 28 3 
			 2003 16 — 
			 2004 22 1 
			 2005 20 8 
			 2006 7 1 
			 (1) Principal offences basis.   Note:  The offence of 'Failing to give up a dog for destruction to having custody of a dog whilst disqualified' is an offence under the Badger Act (1992) and the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991). It has been included in these figures, although it is not possible to tell which Act was intended when sentencing. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.   Source:  NOMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice.

Young Offenders: Remand in Custody

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) 15,  (b) 16 and  (c) 17-year-olds were on remand in each police authority area in each year since 1997; and how many went on to serve a prison sentence.

David Hanson: The numbers of 15 to 17-year-olds held on remand (incorporating untried and convicted unsentenced) in all prison establishments in England and Wales since 1997 can be found in the following table. A breakdown by police authority area is not available.
	
		
			  Population of under 18-year-olds held on remand since 1997 (as at 30 June) 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 
			  Males and females on remand 
			 Aged 15 74 86 44 51 48 59 37 52 52 59 
			 Aged 16 171 183 155 114 98 154 121 118 121 134 
			 Aged 17 561 508 513 409 312 305 314 340 313 380 
			
			  Males on remand 
			 Aged 15 74 86 44 51 48 59 37 52 52 59 
			 Aged 16 171 183 155 114 98 154 121 117 121 134 
			 Aged 17 543 491 494 389 287 293 294 322 298 361 
			
			  Females on remand   
			 Aged 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Aged 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Aged 17 18 17 19 20 25 12 20 18 15 19 
		
	
	The following table gives the percentages of prisoners of all ages held on remand(1) where the outcome of the court proceedings is a period of immediate custody. This information is not available for 15 to 17-year-olds separately.
	(1) Includes persons remanded in custody by magistrates during proceedings or on committal.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Males 
			 Immediate custody 48 51 50 49 52 53 54 
			  Females
			 Immediate custody 36 42 41 40 41 43 45 
		
	
	These figures are taken from the Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2006, tables 8.20 and 7.11, copies of which can be found in the House of Commons Library and which can also be found at the website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonandprobation.htm
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Building Research Establishment: Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the role of the Building Research Establishment was in the home information pack area trials.

Caroline Flint: Building Research Establishment were sub contracted by Ipsos MORI to assist in the analysis and write-up of the findings of the area trials.

Connect Public Affairs

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments the  (a) Core Cities Group,  (b) Thames Gateway London Partnership and  (c) Housing Corporation made to Connect Public Affairs in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose in each case.

Caroline Flint: The Housing Corporation has not made any payments to Connect Public Affairs during this period. The Core Cities Group and Thames Gateway London Partnership are independent of my Department and are open to employ public relations agencies directly. Any information should be sought from them.

Conservation Areas

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many conservation areas there are in England.

Iain Wright: English Heritage publish information on conservation areas in their annual publication Heritage Counts. The most recent edition, Heritage Counts 2007, quotes a figure of 9,374 conservation areas in England—a figure first quoted in Heritage Counts 2005—with the following qualification:
	"After the publication of Heritage Counts 2005, it became apparent while updating the figures that English Heritage had not been informed of all conservation area designations and the data gave an inaccurate representation of the total number. Heritage Counts 2005 quoted a figure of 9,374 conservation areas as of April 2005. SHER 2002 had quoted a figure of 9,027 as of June 2002. Data from local authorities collected as part of the Best Value Performance Indicator regime give a different figure of 9,273 conservation areas in England in 2005-06.
	As a result of these discrepancies, EH is investigating the feasibility of creating a national dataset of conservation areas and from 2006 has been conducting a pilot in the south east region. If this is deemed to be feasible and resources are available it may be possible to provide detailed statistics on conservation areas in a future edition of Heritage Counts".

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department owns land in any of the 15 locations short-listed as possible eco-towns.

Caroline Flint: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not own land in any of the shortlisted eco-town locations. One of the Department's Agencies, English Partnerships, owns land in one of the shortlisted locations, Pennbury near Leicester. This is the Stretton Hall farmland site included in the portfolio of 96 sites which was acquired by English Partnerships from the Department of Health in April 2005 and forms part of the agency's Hospital Sites programme.

Eco-Towns: Public Participation

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many representations  (a) for and  (b) against each of the 15 locations shortlisted as potential eco-towns have been received by her Department.

Caroline Flint: We are currently undertaking a three month consultation on the preliminary views on eco-town benefits and the shortlisted locations. The consultation closes on 30 June and in due course we will provide a further statement on the responses received, together with an indication of how the process influenced the policy. Our aim will be to publish this within three months of the consultation closing on 30 June.

Gardens

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government are considering to end the practice of automatically classifying gardens as brownfield sites; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Annex B of Planning Policy Statement 3 "Housing" (PPS3) defines brownfield land as that
	"which is or was occupied by a permanent structure, including the curtilage of the developed land and any associated fixed surface infrastructure".
	There are no plans to change this definition, the substance of which was first introduced in Planning Policy Guidance note 3 in 2000, and is based on land use change statistics categories of brownfield land which have been the same since 1985.
	Local authorities have always had the ability to turn down applications for inappropriate housing development in back gardens. PPS3, which came into force in April 2007, has strengthened that ability further. In particular, local authorities have now been given the ability to put in place local policies that specifically protect gardens and to separate gardens out from their wider brownfield development targets. The policy also makes clear that there is no presumption that land is suitable for housing simply because it is brownfield, stressing the need for sites to be suitable for housing development, and in suitable locations that will contribute to the creation of sustainable, mixed communities.

Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date a home information pack will be required for a home placed on the market before a home information pack became compulsory to market it and which is not yet sold.

Caroline Flint: We continue to keep the operation of home information packs (HIPs) under review including the date when all properties marketed for sale would require a HIP regardless of when the property was first placed on the market.

Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the impact stand-alone home condition report without home information packs had on transactions in the home information pack area trials.

Caroline Flint: There were no stand-alone home condition reports as part of the area trials.

Homes and Communities Agency: Planning Permission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria the Homes and Communities Agency will use in deciding whether to invoke its powers to rule on development applications as a local planning authority.

Caroline Flint: The Homes and Communities Agency will not decide whether to invoke its powers to rule on development applications as a local planning authority.
	In designated areas, local planning powers may be conferred on the Homes and Communities Agency by the Secretary of State. This will be done after consultation with relevant local authorities and local planning authorities. A designation order will specify the particular powers to be conferred on the Agency in any given case.

Housing Associations: Disabled

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what statutory obligations housing associations have to accommodate the needs of disabled tenants;
	(2)  what statutory obligations housing associations have to improve their housing stock for disabled tenants;
	(3)  what statutory obligations housing associations have to  (a) rehouse disabled tenants and  (b) prioritise their needs on local housing waiting lists.

Iain Wright: Housing associations (RSLs) are independent not-for-profit organisations responsible for their own lettings policy, governance and management of stock. However, under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, it is unlawful for service providers (including housing associations) to treat someone less favourably because of their disability, and they must make 'reasonable adjustments' for them, such as giving that person extra help or changing the way they provide their services.
	Further, the Housing Corporation, which invests in and regulates RSLs, also has statutory duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Through its regulatory code, it requires that RSLs operate according to the law, their constitutions and regulatory requirements. The code requires that they demonstrate when carrying out all their functions commitment to equal opportunities, work towards the elimination of discrimination, demonstrate an equitable approach to rights of all individuals, and be responsive to the individual circumstances of residents. RSLs should have an equalities and diversity policy.
	The regulatory code requires that RSLs have lettings and sales policies which are flexible, non-discriminatory, responsive to demand, and which contribute to the need to be inclusive and ensure sustainable communities. Section 170 of the 1996 Housing Act requires that RSLs co-operate with local housing authorities to enable the latter to fulfil their duties to the homeless, the vulnerable, people in priority housing need and those covered by the Government's Supporting People policy. Where a local authority so requests, and to such an extent as is reasonable in the circumstances, RSLs must co-operate in offering accommodation to people with priority on the authority's housing register. In addition, section 106(2) of the Housing Act 1985 requires that RSLs maintain a set of rules determining priority between applicants in allocating housing accommodation and the rules governing the procedure.

Housing: Floods

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many houses were built in high flood risk areas between 1997 and 2005; and how many houses indicated in plans scheduled for completion by 2020 as part of the Government's programme to build three million new homes are to be built in areas determined by the Environment Agency as high flood risk areas.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Lord Ryder of Wensum on 1 April 2008,  Official Report, House of Lords, columns WA153-54.

Housing: Affordable Homes

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment she has made of the impact of equity leaseback schemes.

Iain Wright: In June 2005 DTZ Pieda were commissioned by the Government to review existing equity release schemes. The report and summary were published in April 2007 and can be viewed on the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/loanfinance
	Local authorities are expected to offer packages of assistance to help ensure that resources can be used more efficiently and effectively to help more people with reduced reliance on public funding. This could include equity release schemes although this is at the discretion of the local authority.

Housing: Affordable Homes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average public subsidy per dwelling for a property was under the  (a) Social Market Homebuy,  (b) New Build Homebuy and  (c) Open Market Homebuy schemes in 2007-08.

Iain Wright: The following table shows the average grant provided through the Housing Corporation's National Affordable Housing Programme for each of the homebuy products in the financial year 2007-08.
	
		
			  Product  Average grant (£) 
			 Social Homebuy 12,210 
			 New Build Homebuy 21,399 
			 Open Market Homebuy 28,854

Housing: Affordable Homes

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes have been built in Romsey constituency in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Information on affordable homes by constituency is not available. Information for Test Valley local authority, which covers Romsey and Andover, is in the following table. The figures include social rent and intermediate affordable housing new build; they exclude affordable housing acquisitions.
	
		
			  New build affordable homes in Test Valley local authority 
			   New affordable homes—new builds 
			 1997-98 50 
			 1998-99 45 
			 1999-2000 47 
			 2000-01 73 
			 2001-02 38 
			 2002-03 117 
			 2003-04 24 
			 2004-05 56 
			 2005-06 69 
			 2006-07 81 
			  Source:  Registered social landlord new build figures from the Housing Corporation, local authority new build completions from P2 returns.

Housing: Affordable Homes

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to ensure that new residential developments in housing hotspots reflect local housing need, with particular reference to the need for affordable family homes.

Iain Wright: Planning Policy Statement 3 Housing (PPS3) expects local planning authorities and regions to take a positive, plan-led approach to providing the right quantity of housing, both market and affordable, to address need and demand in their areas, and the right quality and mix of housing for their communities, based on a robust evidence-based approach. This is why PPS3 asks local planning authorities to carry out strategic housing market assessments, which should then inform the planning process.
	In particular, PPS3 requires authorities to assess local need for affordable housing so that they can set appropriate targets for the amount of housing to be provided in their plans, including specifying the size and type of housing such as those for families that, in their judgment, is likely to be required.

Housing: Affordable Homes

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to ensure that local authorities use appropriate mechanisms to require that homes for sale which were granted planning consent as affordable are sold to people who are on a low income and not purchased by investors to be let at an unaffordable rent.

Iain Wright: Local planning authorities can enter into planning obligations with persons with an interest in land ("developers"); to provide affordable housing in line with the needs identified in their local development plans; to restrict the occupancy of a new residential development in accordance with their local development plan policies; and restrict the sale of affordable housing units to specific organisations (for example a registered social landlord), and define affordable housing in ways to ensure that the units are sold or rented at prices that are affordable to the local community.

Housing: West Yorkshire

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new homes were built in each West Yorkshire constituency in each year since 1992.

Iain Wright: Information on new build completions by constituency is not held centrally. Information for the districts within West Yorkshire is in the following table:
	
		
			  New build completions for the districts within West Yorkshire 
			   Bradford  Calderdale  Kirklees  Leeds  Wakefield 
			 1992-93 812 177 1,331 1,742 634 
			 1993-94 939 290 874 2,111 655 
			 1994-95 1,187 376 1,074 2,182 959 
			 1995-96 1,264 360 1,047 2,161 1,162 
			 1996-97 1,377 356 1,297 2,030 990 
			 1997-98 1,111 374 1,080 2,033 808 
			 1998-99 1,127 499 1,080 1,744 1,255 
			 1999-2000 1,207 433 771 1,952 1,275 
			 2000-01 1,043 355 1,042 1,984 1,097 
			 2001-02 1,259 432 899 1,928 1,283 
			 2002-03 1,220 372 221 2,002 1,136 
			 2003-04 1,104 487 670 2,948 972 
			 2004-05 1,138 765 646 3,123 1,024 
			 2005-06 1,299 754 824 3,229 1,020 
			 2006-07 1,286 1,001 1,081 2,685 1,208 
			  Source:  New build completions from P2 returns submitted by local authorities and National House Building Council (NHBC).

Land Use: Agriculture

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Government plan to review Planning Policy Statement 7 (2004) on developments on agricultural land; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: We have no plans to revise policy in planning policy statement 7 (2004) on developments on agricultural land.

Local Authorities: Buildings

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirements there are upon a local authority to advertise the sale of a property of which it is disposing.

Iain Wright: Under section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 and section 233 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, local authorities can dispose of land, including property, in any manner they wish. But if a local authority proposes to dispose of land that is open space, it must publish a notice of its proposals for at least two weeks in a local newspaper and consider any objections received. Open space in this context means any land laid out as a public garden, or used for the purposes of public recreation, or land which is a disused burial ground.

London Thames Gateway Development Corporation: Euro RSCG Apex Communications

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation made to Euro RSCG Apex Communications in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose in each case.

Caroline Flint: The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation has employed Euro RSCG Apex Communications to provide general public affairs advice on a range of issues. They have made payments in 2006-07 of £26,261 and in 2007-08 of £14,834.

National Interest Mapping Services Agreement

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes in  (a) service and  (b) data provision Ordnance Survey has made to the Mapping for Emergencies service since the ending of the National Interest Mapping Services Agreement; and how many staff were employed by the service (i) before and (ii) after the period covered by that agreement.

Iain Wright: Since the ending of the National Interest Mapping Services Agreement (NIMSA) no fundamental changes have been made by Ordnance Survey to the Mapping for Emergencies service, though at an operational level Ordnance Survey has extended the arrangements with a number of its partners to ensure timely local supplies of information when appropriate, as well as improving processes, contact arrangements and raising awareness of the service among civil contingency response agencies.
	No changes have been made to data provision under the Mapping for Emergencies service. Authorities responding to emergencies continue to be able to request data and mapping from Ordnance Survey's full range of products and services, as may be appropriate to the specific needs of the incident.
	When a Mapping for Emergencies service request is received, staff are temporarily deployed from other duties according to their specialism, to meet the particular requirements of the incident.
	Information on staff deployment to the Mapping for Emergencies service prior to 1 April 1999, when NIMSA was established, is not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In the period since NIMSA ended on 31 December 2006, a total of 12 different staff were deployed in response to two requests between 1 January and 31 March 2007. Twenty-three different staff were deployed across eight incidents during financial year 2007-2008.

Ordnance Survey: Mandate Communications

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments Ordnance Survey made to Mandate Communications/AS Biss and Co in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose in each case.

Iain Wright: Mandate Communications (formerly known as AS Biss and Co) provide Ordnance Survey with consultancy and advice on Corporate Communications and Public Affairs.
	Mandate Communications have been contracted to Ordnance Survey since August 2007. Payments since that date amount to £42,076.20 + VAT in total.

Planning Permission: Prosecutions

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many prosecutions have been brought under building control regulations against people who have opened up access through the party wall of adjoining terraced properties without permission since 2001.

Iain Wright: None. These are two separate pieces of legislation.
	The building regulations set out a series of performance standards which building work should achieve and the process for ensuring compliance with those requirements. They are enforced by the relevant building control body.
	The Party Wall etc Act 1996 provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings. Responsibility for ensuring compliance rests with the building owner who wishes to carry out the work. Failure to follow the procedures laid down in the Act is a civil matter for the relevant parties.

Regional Planning and Development

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1275W, on regional planning and development, in which local authorities have Development Plan documents have been  (a) amended by the planning inspector and  (b) rejected by the planning inspector as unsound.

Iain Wright: The planning inspector does not 'amend' development plan documents. The purpose of the independent examination is to consider if the development plan document is sound. An inspector may find the document sound; he may recommend that it is changed in order to become sound; or he may find it unsound and recommend that it is withdrawn. A local authority may only adopt a plan in accordance with the inspector's recommendations; but it also may choose not to adopt a plan.
	Development plan documents for the following local authorities have been found sound by inspectors subject to inspectors' recommendations for changes.
	Bedford
	Broads Authority
	Chelmsford
	South Cambridgeshire
	Southend on Sea
	Havering
	Kingston on Thames
	Redbridge
	Alnwick
	Blyth Valley
	Middlesbrough
	Newcastle upon Tyne
	Redcar and Cleveland
	South Tyneside
	Tynedale
	Bracknell Forest
	Crawley
	Epsom and Ewell
	Hampshire
	Horsham
	Maidstone
	Mid Sussex
	Milton Keynes
	Portsmouth
	Reading
	Surrey
	Tonbridge and Malling
	Carrick
	Dartmoor
	Mid Devon
	Plymouth
	South Hams
	Staffordshire
	Telford and Wrekin
	Worcester
	Hambleton
	Development plan documents for the following local authorities have been found unsound by inspectors.
	Windsor and Maidenhead
	Carrick
	Teignbridge
	Lichfield
	Stafford
	Worcester
	Ryedale
	Restormel
	Chichester

Social Rented Housing: Private Finance Initiative

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the statement of 25 February 2008,  Official Report, column 66-67WS, on the national strategy for housing in an ageing society: disabled facilities grant (funding), whether socially rented housing built under private finance initiative arrangements will be  (a) classed as publicly-funded housing and  (b) required to be built to Lifetime Homes Standards from 2011.

Iain Wright: holding answer 27 March 2008
	Social rented housing built under a PFI contract is constructed using private sector capital investment but the cost is underpinned by contractual payments to the private sector from the local authority revenue budget which are partly supported by central Government grant. On this basis PFI would count as publicly funded.
	We intend that social rented homes built under PFI from 2011 are built to Lifetime Homes Standards.

Valuation Office: ICT

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information from local authority  (a) planning and  (b) building control departments is passed to the Valuation Office Agency via the Valuebill interface.

John Healey: No information from either planning or building control departments is passed directly to the Valuation Office Agency via the Valuebill interface.
	Billing authority revenues departments send electronic billing authority reports (e-BARs) to the Valuation Office Agency via electronic interfaces developed through Valuebill. Some of these e-BARs are instigated as a result of information received by the revenues department from the planning or building control departments.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Arrests: Football

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) arrests,  (b) prosecutions and  (c) convictions of supporters of each team were made at Premier League football matches in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested, which is collated by the UK Football Policing Unit, is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			   2002-03 s eason  2003-04 season 
			   Arrests  Cautioned  Charged  Convicted  Arrests  Cautioned  Charged  Convicted 
			 Arsenal 36 9 12 10 24 4 11 9 
			 Aston Villa 89 11 48 38 84 14 42 39 
			 Birmingham City 125 13 79 70 54 10 26 20 
			 Blackburn Rovers 19 5 9 7 45 3 13 9 
			 Bolton Wanderers 54 10 32 30 18 6 3 3 
			 Charlton Athletic 12 2 4 4 6 1 4 2 
			 Chelsea 85 24 29 27 33 3 13 10 
			 Crystal Palace n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Everton 87 35 33 25 60 16 27 17 
			 Fulham 10 3 1 1 8 1 4 3 
			 Leeds United 79 8 49 41 110 12 57 44 
			 Leicester City n/a n/a n/a n/a 35 8 21 13 
			 Liverpool 77 43 23 18 57 19 22 17 
			 Manchester City 91 39 41 33 68 20 36 25 
			 Manchester United 111 23 42 35 109 31 35 33 
			 Middlesbrough 66 17 30 22 46 10 18 16 
			 Newcastle United 99 36 30 29 53 9 28 26 
			 Norwich City n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Portsmouth n/a n/a n/a n/a 181 26 134 124 
			 Reading n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Sheffield United n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Southampton 23 5 15 11 25 2 20 17 
			 Sunderland 157 60 56 52 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Tottenham Hotspur 71 7 22 20 79 11 31 30 
			 Watford n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 West Bromwich Albion 59 19 21 17 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 West Ham United 56 13 28 25 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Wigan Athletic n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Wolverhampton Wanderers n/a n/a n/a n/a 37 8 20 19 
			 Total 1,406 382 604 515 1,132 214 565 476 
		
	
	
		
			   2004-05 season  2005-06 season 
			   Arrests  Cautioned  Charged  Convicted  Arrests  Cautioned  Charged  Convicted 
			 Arsenal 19 1 10 3 65 2 39 31 
			 Aston Villa 86 17 54 38 50 3 11 9 
			 Birmingham City 37 2 12 5 69 5 35 25 
			 Blackburn Rovers 24 4 11 9 21 3 10 9 
			 Bolton Wanderers 24 0 13 9 34 7 17 16 
			 Charlton Athletic 29 4 16 8 20 1 2 0 
			 Chelsea 69 15 35 19 62 4 19 16 
			 Crystal Palace 18 6 9 4 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Everton 62 28 19 10 71 11 38 28 
			 Fulham 9 3 4 3 11 0 1 1 
			 Leeds United n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Leicester City n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Liverpool 59 12 18 7 53 10 23 19 
			 Manchester City 74 14 46 16 69 5 34 24 
			 Manchester United 99 6 44 19 116 13 50 42 
			 Middlesbrough 31 4 21 11 26 13 8 7 
			 Newcastle United 53 8 34 24 91 7 30 28 
			 Norwich City 22 8 9 6 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Portsmouth 30 2 15 5 25 3 12 7 
			 Reading n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Sheffield United n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Southampton 37 8 21 10 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Sunderland n/a n/a n/a n/a 109 25 56 40 
			 Tottenham Hotspur 67 22 29 9 169 3 30 14 
			 Watford n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 West Bromwich Albion 61 9 38 28 28 2 20 14 
			 West Ham United n/a n/a n/a n/a 31 0 6 3 
			 Wigan Athletic n/a n/a n/a n/a 36 3 20 15 
			 Wolverhampton Wanderers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Total 910 173 458 243 1,156 120 461 348 
		
	
	
		
			   2006-07 season 
			   Arrests  Cautioned  Charged  Convicted 
			 Arsenal 64 6 31 23 
			 Aston Villa 57 17 19 14 
			 Birmingham City n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Blackburn Rovers 17 3 10 6 
			 Bolton Wanderers 27 1 18 16 
			 Charlton Athletic 15 0 11 7 
			 Chelsea 72 11 24 17 
			 Crystal Palace n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Everton 67 14 27 24 
			 Fulham 7 1 1 1 
			 Leeds United n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Leicester City n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Liverpool 41 7 26 19 
			 Manchester City 64 10 37 26 
			 Manchester United 125 26 55 38 
			 Middlesbrough 48 11 23 19 
			 Newcastle United 77 12 52 42 
			 Norwich City n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Portsmouth 26 5 10 6 
			 Reading 25 3 13 6 
			 Sheffield United 63 6 16 13 
			 Southampton n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Sunderland n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Tottenham Hotspur 51 12 22 15 
			 Watford 13 1 2 2 
			 West Bromwich Albion n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 West Ham United 95 7 41 31 
			 Wigan Athletic 30 6 8 8 
			 Wolverhampton Wanderers n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Total 984 159 446 333 
			 n/a indicates this team was not a member of the FA Premier League during this season

Asylum: Children

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her estimate is of the percentage of funds repaid by Government to Kent county council in respect of expenditure making provision for unaccompanied asylum seeking children in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06,  (c) 2006-07 and  (d) 2007-08; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: h olding answer 30 April 2008
	The percentage of expenditure repaid to Kent in respect of expenditure claimed from the Home Office for the provision of service to unaccompanied asylum seeking children was: 100 per cent. of total eligible expenditure claimed, including special circumstances, in 2004-05 and 2005-06; 92 per cent. of total eligible expenditure claimed in 2006-07.
	The grant claim timetable means that the figure for 2007-08 is not yet available.

Case Resolution Directorate: Manpower

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time in the Case Resolution Directorate; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: There are currently 878 full-time staff and 207 part-time staff members employed within the Case Resolution Directorate. This information is based on internal management information.

Departmental Consultants

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contracts her Department signed on a consultancy basis with a net value of more than £20,000 in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not hold a central record of contracts. To identify and assemble the requested list from individual records held across the Home Office Headquarters and its executive agencies would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Participation

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what opinion research companies her Department has employed in each of the last five years; and what the cost was of each contract.

Liam Byrne: During the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 the Home Office employed TNS to undertake its public opinion polling. This was at a total cost of £243,460 (ex VAT). During 2006 and 2007 Ipsos MORI carried out the opinion polling at a total cost of £264,525 (ex VAT).

Disabled

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets her Department has set in relation to its employment of people with disabilities over the next five years.

Liam Byrne: The current Cabinet Office target, as set out in '10 Point Plan on creating a diverse civil service' (commonly referred to as the 10 Point Plan), for the employment of staff declaring a disability is 3.2 per cent. by April 2008.
	The Department is awaiting the publication of the successor to the 10 Point Plan, which is currently being developed and due for publication later this summer.

Firearms: Crime

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 657-58W, on Firearms: Crime, how many  (a) gun crimes and  (b) arrests relating to gun crime there were (i) in England and Wales and (ii) in each police force area in each year since 2005-06.

Vernon Coaker: Available data relate to offences involving firearms (excluding air weapons) recorded during 2005-06 and 2006-07 and are given in the following table. Firearms are taken to be involved in a crime if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument or used as a threat.
	The arrests collection undertaken by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform provides data on persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) by main offence group, i.e. violence against the person, sexual offences, robbery, burglary etc. More detailed data about specific offences are not collected.
	
		
			  Crimes recorded by the police in which firearms (excluding air weapons) were to have been used( 1) , by police force area: England and Wales 2005-06 and 2006-07 
			  Recorded crime 
			  Police force area  2005-06  2006-07 
			  North East region   
			 Cleveland 41 19 
			 Durham 18 14 
			 Northumbria 137 111 
			
			  North West region   
			 Cheshire 71 41 
			 Cumbria 18 21 
			 Greater Manchester 1,200 993 
			 Lancashire 372 364 
			 Merseyside 485 410 
			
			  Yorkshire and the Humber region   
			 Humberside 108 117 
			 North Yorkshire 15 14 
			 South Yorkshire 301 211 
			 West Yorkshire 355 319 
			
			  East Midlands region   
			 Derbyshire 109 83 
			 Leicestershire 89 109 
			 Lincolnshire 72 45 
			 Northamptonshire 128 159 
			 Nottinghamshire 277 196 
			
			  West Midlands region   
			 Staffordshire 128 94 
			 Warwickshire 80 90 
			 West Mercia 115 63 
			 West Midlands 946 979 
			
			  East of England region   
			 Bedfordshire 103 86 
			 Cambridgeshire 34 24 
			 Essex 280 255 
			 Hertfordshire 114 89 
			 Norfolk 29 34 
			 Suffolk 58 42 
			
			 London region 3,884 3,331 
			
			  South East region   
			 Hampshire 85 122 
			 Kent 142 92 
			 Surrey 87 60 
			 Sussex 85 84 
			 Thames Valley 401 332 
			
			  South West region   
			 Avon and Somerset 167 138 
			 Devon and Cornwall 174 132 
			 Dorset 27 28 
			 Gloucestershire 77 65 
			 Wiltshire 43 69 
			
			  Wales   
			 Dyfed Powys 21 17 
			 Gwent 53 33 
			 North Wales 88 98 
			 South Wales 71 67 
			
			 England and Wales 11,088 9,650 
			
			 England and Wales (excluding London region) 7,204 6,319 
			 (1) Firearms are taken to be involved in a crime if they are fired, used as a blunt instrument against a person, or used as a threat.  Note: Data for 2007-08 are scheduled to be published in January 2009.

Foreign Workers: Health Professions

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued for  (a) nurses and  (b) doctors from African countries in each year since 2005.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 21 April 2008
	The following table shows the number of work permit applications which were approved for applications from nurses and doctors from Africa, in the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2007.
	
		
			  Africa 
			   Doctor  Nurse 
			 2005 590 7,840 
			 2006 520 4,585 
			 2007 230 2,780 
		
	
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each police force  (a) requested in recharge payments and  (b) received in recharge payments from the Immigration Service where immigration officers authorised the detention of a suspected illegal immigrant, in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Details of recharge payments made to individual police forces are in the table.
	 (b) The information requested about recharge payments where immigration officers have authorised the detention of a suspected illegal immigrant could be obtained by the detailed examination of individual case records and only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Police expenditure 
			  Police authority  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Avon and Somerset 160 62 51 
			 Bedfordshire Police 22 10 10 
			 British Transport 12 10 0 
			 Cambridgeshire Police 101 134 117 
			 Central Scotland Police 0 0 8 
			 Cheshire Police 104 61 8 
			 Cleveland Police 94 39 39 
			 Cumbria Police 1 5 1 
			 Derbyshire Police 0 15 1 
			 Devon and Cornwall Constabulary 136 203 147 
			 Dorset Police 95 152 147 
			 Dumfries and Galloway Council 6 100 67 
			 Durham Constabulary 23 0 0 
			 Dyfed Powys Police 43 50 48 
			 Essex Police Authority 96 86 34 
			 Fife Council 0 0 2 
			 Gloucestershire Police 30 12 7 
			 Grampian Joint Police 13 12 11 
			 Greater Manchester Police 187 216 206 
			 Gwent Police Authority 55 42 25 
			 Hampshire Constabulary 199 282 598 
			 Hertfordshire Police 47 10 9 
			 Humberside Police 63 35 53 
			 Kent Police Authority 614 379 322 
			 Lancashire Police 55 8 7 
			 Leicestershire Police 43 29 2 
			 Lincolnshire Police 92 193 71 
			 Lothian and Borders 0 9 84 
			 Merseyside Police 162 227 104 
			 Metropolitan Police 2,997 2,886 3,665 
			 Norfolk Police 6 2 1 
			 North Wales Police 254 272 285 
			 North Yorkshire Police 6 7 20 
			 Northamptonshire Police 316 134 116 
			 Northern Ireland Police 15 109 254 
			 Northumbria Police 48 66 151 
			 Nottinghamshire Police 18 72 62 
			 Port of Tilbury 0 2 0 
			 South Wales Police 252 133 152 
			 South Yorkshire Police 44 56 91 
			 Staffordshire Police 76 68 64 
			 Strathclyde Police 0 6 88 
			 Suffolk Police 1 0 1 
			 Surrey Police 138 66 95 
			 Sussex Police 442 224 173 
			 Tayside Joint Police 0 0 17 
			 Thames Valley Police 193 118 93 
			 The Highland Council 5 1 2 
			 Warwickshire Police 13 12 17 
			 West Mercia Police 10 22 13 
			 West Midlands Police 124 90 105 
			 West Yorkshire Police 234 228 217 
			 Wiltshire Constabulary 82 30 31 
			 Total 7,728 6,884 7,892

Omar Ali Namo

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to be able to determine the immigration status of Omar Ali Namo (Ref N1063103).

Liam Byrne: I wrote to the hon. Member on 29 April 2008.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 5 February 2007,  Official Report, columns 670-1W, on Iraq, how many Iraqi nationals have been allowed entry into the UK while travelling with G-series passports since January 2007; how many have been granted entry using other passports issued by the Iraqi authorities; and what information her Department holds on the number of Iraqi citizens not allowed entry into the UK, broken down by type of passport.

Liam Byrne: Information relating to the breakdown by type of document of applications for entry made by Iraqi nationals is unavailable. The United Kingdom Border Agency does not routinely collect the passport details of those individuals granted entry to the United Kingdom. Information relating to the passport details of those Iraqi nationals who have been refused entry to the United Kingdom could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to reply to the letter dated 8 February 2008 from the right hon. Member for Banff and Buchan on Mr. Kisuka.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 29 April 2008.

Press

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the press offices of  (a) her Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies was in each year since 1996-97; what the cost was in each quarter since 1 April 2007; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Media relations for the whole Department and agencies are handled by the Home Office, Communication Directorate based Press Office and in addition since May 2007 the Border Agency regional network of five Press officers.
	The following table provides the total cost of providing these services each financial year from 1998-99 to 2006-07; total cost figures for 2007-08 are not yet available. Cost data for earlier years and for non-departmental public bodies, is not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Financial year  Total cost (£) 
			 1998-99 1,095,000 
			 1999-2000 1,213,200 
			 2000-01 2,184,200 
			 2001-02 1,972,600 
			 2002-03 3,109,449 
			 2003-04 2,959,966 
			 2004-05 2,777,578 
			 2005-06 3,351,648 
			 2006-07 3,238,534

Public Order Offences: Airports

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces she has  (a) received representations from and  (b) had discussions with on concerns surrounding threats to public order arising from overcrowding or delays in processing passengers through airport security, customs and immigration procedures.

Liam Byrne: The United Kingdom Border Agency regularly engages with police forces throughout the country with responsibility for airports to ensure that arriving flights are managed effectively, that passengers are processed efficiently and that threats to public order are minimised.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Cogent Sector Skills Council

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps the Cogent Sector Skills Council is taking to ensure that there is an adequate supply of people with the skills needed for the nuclear waste industries.

David Lammy: Cogent Sector Skills Council (SSC) works with employers to ensure that the nuclear industry's skill requirements are met.
	Cogent has a sector skills agreement (SSA) with the nuclear industry, Government, trade unions and other stakeholders. This identifies the skills needs of the sector and the recruitment, training and education solutions needed to address skills gaps. One important solution is the launch of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN). NSAN is a subsidiary company of Cogent and, responding to employer demand in the sector, its focus is UK-wide with responsibilities for assuring training provision to agreed standards.
	To address the specific skill needs of the nuclear waste industry, Cogent is working closely with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the National Skills Academy for Nuclear and employers. The initiatives include a web-based career pathways service and development of apprenticeship/modern apprenticeship frameworks, a nuclear industry training framework and national occupational standards along with the associated Scottish/national vocational qualifications, and foundation degrees. The career pathways scope the skills to deal with current nuclear waste volumes and the requirements of a future national nuclear waste repository.
	Through the Alliance of SSCs, Cogent works with related SSCs as well as with other skills bodies, such as the Engineering Construction Industry Trade Board, to ensure the full range of skills required to deal with nuclear waste are available.

Health Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether his Department provides health or social care services out of public funds, with reference to the statement by the Minister of State, Department of Health, in the Health and Social Care Bill Committee, of 17 January 2008,  Official Report, column 327.

David Lammy: The Department does not provide any health or social care services out of public funds.

Learning and Skills Council: Weber Shandwick Public Affairs

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what payments the Learning and Skills Council made to Weber Shandwick Public Affairs in each of the last five years; on what date; and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Bill Rammell: The payments made by the Learning and Skills Council at this level of detail are not collected by my Department. This is an operational matter for the LSC as they determine any payments to local providers, partners and other organisations that are necessary to support the delivery of the Council's key priorities and targets. Mark Haysom, the Council's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member with further information and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 30 April 2008:
	I refer to your recent parliamentary question relating to the above. I am replying as your question is about the Learning and Skills Council.
	Your question asked the Secretary State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what payments the Learning and Skills Council have made to Weber Shandwick Public Affairs in each of the last five years; on what date; and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.
	Below is a table that gives the amounts paid in the last five years totalling £94,187.87:
	
		
			   Payment amount (£) 
			  2006  
			 8 February 5,892.63 
			 1 March 5,892.63 
			 3 July 22.09 
			 17 July 8,465.88 
			 19 July 6,303.88 
			 14 August 7,164.56 
			 11 October 8,136.88 
			 13 November 32.43 
			 11 December 4,003.81 
			  2007  
			 9 January 3,436.88 
			 30 January 2,720.13 
			 2 April 2,893.44 
			 5 April 95.96 
			 11 April 3,334.06 
			 18 April 3,245.94 
			 9 May 793.13 
			 25 June 7,182.19 
			 4 July 1,454.06, 
			 11 July 4,230.00 
			 23 August 4,861.56 
			 20 September 2,350.00 
			 24 October 1,615.63 
			 7 November 1,101.56 
			 19 November 1,380.63 
			 28 November 953.85 
			 5 December 925.31 
			  2008  
			 7 January 2,217.81 
			 17 March 881.25 
			 14 April 1,454.06 
			 16 April 1,145.63 
		
	
	The LSC has engaged the firm in its capacity as a Public Affairs Consultant to provide strategic counsel to the LSC Public Affairs team. The payments were all for information on the public affairs and media arenas in relation to the education and skills sector.

Mature Students: Finance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of  (a) part-time and  (b) mature students are in receipt of Government-funded support for the latest period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The number and proportion of undergraduate students in receipt of student support is as follows (postgraduate students do not generally qualify for support):
	
		
			  Part-time and mature students, England, academic year 2006/07 
			   Students  Students receiving loans, grants or allowances  Percentage receiving support 
			 Part-time undergraduates (1) 454,300 45,500 10 
			 Full-time undergraduates aged 21 or over (2) 368,800 307,700 83 
			 (1) English domiciled part-time students studying in the UK. (2) English domiciled students studying in the UK and EU domiciled students studying in institutions in England. Students receiving support includes PGCE students.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency and Student Loans Company 
		
	
	Part-time students need to be studying at 50 per cent. of the intensity of a full-time student to apply for both a fee and course grant. This Government was the first to introduce statutory support for part-time students, in 2000/01. In 2006/07, we introduced the most generous package of financial support ever for part-time students in England. This included increasing the maximum fee grant by 27 per cent. and an above-inflation increase in the income threshold for receiving this support.
	Mature full-time students are generally eligible for the same student support package as other students but maintenance loans are only available to those under 60. They can also access targeted support including the Adult Dependants' Grant, Parents Learning Allowance, Childcare Grant and Disabled Students Allowance. Students may also qualify for a bursary from their higher education institution.
	From 2008/09, we are increasing the income thresholds for the means tested maintenance grant so many more full-time students, including mature students, will receive grant support. This will mean that one third of all eligible students in England entering higher education in the academic year 2008/09 are expected to be entitled to a full non-repayable grant worth £2,835 and another one third are expected to be entitled to a partial grant.

Overseas Students: Loans

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many students from other EU member states other than the UK had a loan from the Student Loans Company at the latest date for which figures are available; and what the total value of such loans was.

Bill Rammell: EC nationals are eligible for tuition fee support only, provided that they have been ordinarily resident in the EEA and Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. Prior to 2006/07 this support was in the form of a means tested grant.
	During academic year 2006/07 8,300 EU domicile students took out loans with a total value of £22 million, which represents 0.6 per cent. of the total amount borrowed during the year.

Quality Improvement Agency: Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the cost of the Quality Improvement Agency has been; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Quality Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning is an advisory NDPB and was established on 1 April 2006. QIA will soon be merged with the Centre for Excellence in Leadership to form a new sector owned improvement body for the further education and skills sector.
	In the financial year 2006 to 2007 the QIA's budget was £95.315 million, and its gross expenditure was £93.135 million.
	In the financial year 2007 to 2008 the QIA's budget was £114.773 million. The figure for its gross expenditure in the financial year 2007-08 is not yet available as the Department will not receive the final accounts for that year from the QIA until mid July.

Student Loans Company: Finance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the level of debt which will be owed to the Student Loans Company in each of the next five years.

Bill Rammell: The estimated amount of outstanding publicly owned student loans at the end of each of the next five financial years is:
	
		
			  End of financial year  Total outstanding (£ billion) (rounded to nearest £ billion) 
			 2008-09 27 
			 2009-10 31 
			 2010-11 36 
			 2011-12 41 
			 2012-13 46 
			  Note: The amounts include those taken out by English domiciled students studying in the UK and EU students studying in England, as well as Mortgage Style (MS) loans taken out by English and Welsh domiciled students studying in the UK. 
		
	
	There will be steady growth in the total value of outstanding loans over the next five years, with estimated repayment levels being lower than the estimated value of new loans. Several years further into the future, the income contingent repayment (ICR) loans system will be fully mature and there will be consistent numbers of borrowers studying, repaying, completing repayment and having loans cancelled after 25 years. At that stage, the total value of loans in real terms is expected to peak.
	These amounts include all ICR loans and do not take account of potential future sales of loans to the private sector. They include Mortgage Style loans, except those that were sold to the private sector in 1998 and 1999.

Students: Grants

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of undergraduate part-time students in England were ineligible for a fee grant solely because  (a) they already had a Level 4 qualification,  (b) they were studying for less than 50 per cent. of a full-time course and  (c) their income was assessed as too high, in the last year for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: Information on the sole reason for a student being ineligible for a fee grant is not available. Some students are not eligible for more than one reason.
	
		
			  Part-time English domiciled undergraduate students who already have a level 4 qualification or are studying at less than 50 per cent. intensity, academic year 2006/07 
			   Students 
			 Already have Level 4 qualification and studying at 50 per cent. or more intensity 87,800 
			 Without previous Level 4 qualification and studying at less than 50 per cent. intensity 119,400 
			 Already have Level 4 qualification and studying at less than 50 per cent. intensity 133,100 
		
	
	The number of part-time students ineligible for a fee grant solely because their income was assessed as too high is not available.

Training: Finance

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether responsibility for funding the 14 to 19 foundation learning tier will be transferred to local authorities in 2010-11.

Bill Rammell: The responsibilities for planning, commissioning and funding of 16-18 provision will transfer to local authorities from 2010-11. The proposals for how the new system will operate are set on in the White Paper 'Raising Expectations; enabling the system to deliver' which is currently out for consultation until the 9 June. These proposals will play a critical role in helping to deliver our ambition to increase the participation age to 18 by 2015 and delivering the full range of entitlements to Diplomas, Apprenticeships and the Foundation Learning Tier. Local authorities are in the best place to lead the implementation of the new participation age locally. They are already responsible for schools and are taking responsibility for advising young people.
	We are now proposing to give them new responsibilities to ensure that there is the right range of provision in place for young people to continue in education or training until age 19. In doing so, we are making sure that they have the ability to deliver in full the new curriculum and qualifications entitlement for young people, and to raise standards.

United Kingdom Accreditation Service: Grayling Political Strategy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what payments  (a) the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and  (b) UFi made to Grayling Political Strategy in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

David Lammy: The United Kingdom Accreditation Service is a private company and I do not have detailed information about their payments to Grayling Political Strategy. However, I understand they pay them approximately £12,000 per annum for general political monitoring services. The payments made by UFI at this level of detail are not collected by my Department. This is an operational matter for UFI since they determine any payments to local providers, partners and other organisations that are necessary to support the delivery of the UFI's key priorities and targets. Sarah Jones, UFI's chief executive, will write to the hon. Member with further information. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House Library.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of childcare staff in England had childcare qualifications which were obtained overseas in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey collects information on staff qualifications that are relevant to working with children and young people. The percentage of paid staff in England holding an overseas qualification for each year available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Table 1: proportion of all paid staff holding an overseas qualification 
			  Percentage 
			   2005  2006 
			 Full day care <0.5 <0.5 
			 Full day care in children's centres n/a <0.5 
			 Sessional <0.5 <0.5 
			 After school clubs n/a <0.5 
			 Holiday clubs n/a <0.5 
			 Childminders n/a <0.5 
			 Nursery schools n/a <0.5 
			 Primary schools with nursery and reception classes n/a 1 
			 Primary schools with reception but no nursery classes n/a 0 
			  Notes: 1. Children's centres were included in the survey for the first time in 2006; therefore data is not available for previous years. 2. After school and holiday clubs were sampled differently in 2005 and comparable figures for this year are not available. 3. Early years settings in maintained schools were not included in the 2005 survey.

Children: Obesity

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children aged between  (a) two and 15 and  (b) 10 and 15 were estimated to be obese in each year from 1990 to 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is not available in the exact format requested.
	Data on the prevalence of obesity among children aged two to 10, 11 to 15, and two to 15 between 1995 and 2006 can be found in the "Health Survey for England 2006 latest trends", published 31 January 2008. The data are presented in table 4 (obesity) of the "Children trend tables 2006". Copies of this publication are available in the Library.
	Information on the proportion of children who are obese in the age range 10 to 15, and for the years 1990 to 1994 and 2007 to 2008 are not available.

Food: Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers are qualified to teach food technology.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not currently available.

Gifted and Talented Programme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools are not taking part in the gifted and talented programme.

Jim Knight: Provisional data from the January 2008 school census shows that the percentage of schools identifying gifted and talented learners has increased by 3 per cent. in the secondary sector and 11 per cent. in the primary sector to 94 per cent. and 76 per cent. respectively. This shows continued strong progress towards the target for having all schools identifying gifted and talented learners by 2010.

Head teachers

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average age of  (a) primary school and  (b) secondary school head teachers was in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the average age of full-time head teachers employed in local authority maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools in England, March 1997 to 2006.
	
		
			  The average age of full-time head teachers employed in local authority maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools in England, March 1997 to 2006. 
			   Nursery/Primary  Secondary 
			  March   
			 1997 48 49 
			 1998 48 49 
			 1999 48 50 
			 2000 49 50 
			 2001 49 50 
			 2002 49 50 
			 2003 50 51 
			 2004 50 50 
			 2005 50 51 
			 2006 50 51 
			  Source: Database of Teacher Records

Music: Wider Opportunities Programme

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to build on the Wider Opportunities programme;
	(2)  how many pilot schemes were set up as part of the Wider Opportunities programme; how long the pilots lasted; and how many pilots are in operation;
	(3)  what funding his Department provided for the Wider Opportunities music programme in each year since 2003;
	(4)  what the status of the Wider Opportunities music programme is; and what plans there are for extending it beyond its pilot areas.

Jim Knight: There were 13 Wider Opportunities pilot authorities: Barking and Dagenham, Croydon, Devon, Haringey, Hertfordshire, Kirklees, Manchester, Newham, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Portsmouth and Staffordshire. All of the pilot authorities have learnt from their experience and are continuing to address the objectives of giving as many pupils as possible access to free instrumental tuition during key stage 2 care, which Ofsted(1) recommended should last for at least one year.
	In 2003-04 each local authority received an additional £10,000 in its Standards Fund allocation for music specifically to support activities linked to wider opportunities at key stage 2. These additional payments of £10,000 were also made in 2005-06 and 2006-07. In 2006-07 a further £3 million was allocated nationally to support wider opportunities work, with £23 million allocated for this purpose in 2007-08. These allocations were shared on a formula based on the number of key stage 2 pupils with a weighting for social disadvantage. For 2008 to 2011 the Standards Fund Music Grant still includes a formula based sum (£23 million a year) to enhance access to instrumental and vocal opportunities at key stage 2.
	Since 2006 "Wider Opportunities" has come to be used to describe not a single model but rather a number of models which deliver instrumental and vocal tuition across whole class and year groups. Guidance for schools on instrumental and vocal tuition at key stage 2 was produced in March 2006 and updated(2) in September 2007.
	We continue to support the objectives of widening musical opportunities for children and young people, and announced a record £332 million investment for music in schools on 21 November 2007. Our aspiration, as set out in the Standards Fund guidance sent to directors of Children Services in December 2007, is that by 2011 programmes will be in place that will result in every child having the opportunity to learn a musical instrument for free, normally in a large group or whole class setting, for at least one year.
	(1) "Tuning in: wider opportunities in specialist instrumental tuition for pupils in key stage 2" March 2004.
	(2 )Available on teachernet: http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&Productld=DFES-0184-2006&

Pre-School Education: Finance

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 315W, what the findings were from the June 2007 School Funding Reforms analyses into the cost of delivering the free entitlement in private voluntary and independent nurseries; what the findings of these analyses were; and if he will place in the Library the analyses.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not collected centrally. As part of the package of reforms to early years funding which we announced in June last year we asked local authorities to undertake an analysis of the cost of delivering the free early education in the private, voluntary and independent sector specifically to inform local budget setting for 2008 to 2011. Local authorities will use their local analyses to inform the development of a single funding formula for delivery of the free entitlement in their authority by 2010.

Primary Education

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many primary schools there were in each local authority area in England in each year since 1996-97.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number of primary schools: 1997 to 2007, by local authority( 1) area and Government Office Region in England 
			2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000  1999 
			   England 17,361 17,504 17,642 17,762 17,861 17,985 18,069 18,158 18,234 
			
			   North East 918 930 938 949 959 971 978 982 986 
			 841 Darlington 30 30 32 34 35 35 35 38 38 
			 840 Durham 236 241 241 243 244 247 247 247 249 
			 390 Gateshead 73 75 75 75 75 75 75 76 76 
			 805 Hartlepool 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 
			 806 Middlesbrough 42 42 42 42 45 47 47 47 47 
			 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 72 72 72 72 72 73 76 76 77 
			 392 North Tyneside 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 
			 929 Northumberland 138 138 141 141 143 143 143 142 142 
			 807 Redcar and Cleveland 45 47 49 50 52 52 52 53 53 
			 393 South Tyneside 51 53 53 54 55 56 56 57 57 
			 808 Stockton-on-Tees 62 62 63 64 63 64 65 64 64 
			 394 Sunderland 83 84 84 88 89 93 96 96 97 
			
			   North West 2,554 2,581 2,614 2,639 2,662 2,699 2,722 2,738 2,761 
			 889 Blackburn with Darwen 56 56 57 58 58 59 59 59 60 
			 890 Blackpool 29 30 32 32 32 32 33 33 33 
			 350 Bolton 98 99 99 100 102 105 105 105 105 
			 351 Bury 63 63 63 63 68 69 69 70 70 
			 875 Cheshire 275 280 284 286 289 289 289 290 292 
			 909 Cumbria 279 281 285 288 289 293 295 296 298 
			 876 Halton 52 52 52 52 52 52 54 55 55 
			 340 Knowsley 55 59 59 59 59 60 60 60 60 
			 888 Lancashire 486 487 489 492 493 499 500 502 505 
			 341 Liverpool 135 135 135 138 144 150 156 157 160 
			 352 Manchester 133 135 136 137 139 141 146 150 157 
			 353 Oldham 94 94 94 95 97 100 101 101 101 
			 354 Rochdale 71 73 74 75 75 75 76 76 76 
			 355 Salford 83 83 83 84 84 84 85 86 86 
			 343 Sefton 78 80 88 89 89 90 91 60 93 
			 342 St. Helens 54 56 56 58 58 59 59 92 62 
			 356 Stockport 92 92 99 101 101 101 102 103 105 
			 357 Tameside 75 75 76 76 77 79 79 79 79 
			 358 Trafford 72 73 73 73 73 75 76 76 76 
			 877 Warrington 71 71 71 71 71 74 74 75 75 
			 359 Wigan 105 107 108 111 111 112 112 112 112 
			 344 Wirral 98 100 101 101 101 101 101 101 101 
			
			   Yorkshire and the Humber 1,872 1,891 1,905 1,921 1,934 1,949 1,961 1,970 1,981 
			 370 Barnsley 82 82 85 85 85 85 87 87 88 
			 380 Bradford 158 159 159 159 158 158 157 163 165 
			 381 Calderdale 85 85 85 87 87 88 88 89 89 
			 371 Doncaster 103 103 103 104 108 110 113 113 113 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 132 133 134 135 136 135 135 135 135 
			 810 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 71 77 77 77 78 79 80 80 81 
			 382 Kirklees 151 151 152 152 152 152 152 152 152 
			 383 Leeds 222 225 230 241 241 244 244 244 244 
			 812 North East Lincolnshire 59 59 59 59 60 60 61 62 65 
			 813 North Lincolnshire 66 67 67 68 69 69 69 69 69 
			 815 North Yorkshire 326 328 329 329 329 329 329 328 328 
			 372 Rotherham 103 104 106 106 108 108 110 110 111 
			 373 Sheffield 136 140 140 140 142 147 147 148 149 
			 384 Wakefield 124 124 125 125 127 128 130 130 130 
			 816 York 54 54 54 54 54 57 59 60 62 
			
			   East Midlands 1,696 1,708 1,725 1,729 1,732 1,740 1,746 1,750 1,751 
			 831 Derby 78 78 78 80 81 81 80 81 81 
			 830 Derbyshire 358 358 358 358 359 361 361 362 363 
			 856 Leicester 84 85 86 86 86 86 87 87 87 
			 855 Leicestershire 225 226 226 226 226 227 227 228 228 
			 925 Lincolnshire 285 286 288 289 289 289 289 289 289 
			 928 Northamptonshire 265 268 272 271 269 269 270 270 269 
			 892 Nottingham 92 93 98 98 99 101 101 101 101 
			 891 Nottinghamshire 292 297 302 304 306 309 313 314 315 
			 857 Rutland 17 17 17 17 17 17 18 18 18 
			
			   West Midlands 1,829 1,854 1,874 1,892 1,907 1,921 1,932 1,949 1,964 
			 330 Birmingham 299 302 305 311 321 322 323 328 332 
			 331 Coventry 85 85 86 86 87 89 89 89 89 
			 332 Dudley 78 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 
			 884 Herefordshire* 82 83 84 84 84 85 85 85 85 
			 333 Sandwell 96 97 99 99 99 100 101 102 105 
			 893 Shropshire 142 143 143 143 143 144 144 144 145 
			 334 Solihull 67 67 67 67 68 68 68 68 68 
			 860 Staffordshire 301 306 308 311 311 312 312 313 316 
			 861 Stoke-on-Trent 71 71 74 78 80 83 86 88 88 
			 894 Telford and Wrekin 57 61 64 66 66 65 65 66 66 
			 335 Walsall 86 90 93 93 94 94 94 96 100 
			 937 Warwickshire 196 196 197 198 197 197 199 200 200 
			 336 Wolverhampton 80 80 80 82 82 87 88 91 91 
			 885 Worcestershire* 189 191 192 192 193 193 196 197 197 
			
			   East of England 2,059 2,065 2,076 2,085 2,101 2,105 2,114 2,127 2,125 
			 820 Bedfordshire 146 146 146 146 148 148 148 147 147 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 201 203 202 202 204 205 206 207 205 
			 881 Essex 473 474 474 474 477 479 484 490 488 
			 919 Hertfordshire 407 408 416 418 421 422 425 426 426 
			 821 Luton 54 57 57 58 61 61 61 65 66 
			 926 Norfolk 384 385 385 385 386 386 387 389 390 
			 874 Peterborough 58 58 58 59 59 58 58 57 57 
			 882 Southend-on-Sea 37 37 39 40 42 42 43 43 43 
			 935 Suffolk 256 254 254 256 255 256 255 256 256 
			 883 Thurrock 43 43 45 47 48 48 47 47 47 
			
			   London 1,823 1,831 1,836 1,849 1,862 1,879 1,888 1,899 1,912 
			   Inner London 695 695 697 702 708 715 719 726 734 
			 202 Camden 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 42 42 
			 201 City of London 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 
			 204 Hackney 53 54 55 54 56 57 58 58 57 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 35 35 35 35 35 36 36 36 36 
			 309 Haringey 63 63 63 66 66 67 67 70 72 
			 206 Islington 45 45 45 47 47 49 49 49 51 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 
			 208 Lambeth 60 59 59 59 61 63 65 67 70 
			 209 Lewisham 69 69 69 69 70 70 70 70 70 
			 316 Newham 66 66 66 66 66 65 64 64 63 
			 210 Southwark 71 71 72 72 72 72 72 72 72 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 69 69 69 69 70 72 73 73 75 
			 212 Wandsworth 56 56 56 57 57 57 57 58 59 
			 213 Westminster 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 
			   Outer London 1,128 1,136 1,139 1,147 1,154 1,164 1,169 1,173 1,178 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 49 49 49 49 49 49 49 49 50 
			 302 Barnet 87 88 89 91 91 91 90 90 91 
			 303 Bexley 59 59 59 61 63 63 63 63 64 
			 304 Brent 59 61 60 60 60 60 60 59 60 
			 305 Bromley 77 77 77 78 78 78 78 78 78 
			 306 Croydon 91 91 92 93 94 94 94 94 95 
			 307 Ealing 64 64 64 65 65 65 65 65 65 
			 308 Enfield 66 67 67 66 65 65 65 66 66 
			 203 Greenwich 64 64 64 64 64 65 67 69 69 
			 310 Harrow 54 55 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 
			 311 Havering 65 65 65 65 65 67 67 68 69 
			 312 Hillingdon 65 65 66 66 66 67 67 67 66 
			 313 Hounslow 60 60 60 60 60 60 64 64 64 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 36 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 
			 315 Merton 43 43 43 43 43 49 49 49 49 
			 317 Redbridge 50 51 51 51 51 51 51 52 52 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 41 41 41 41 41 39 39 39 39 
			 319 Sutton 41 41 41 41 42 43 43 43 43 
			 320 Waltham Forest 57 58 58 60 64 65 65 65 65 
			
			   South East 2,670 2,690 2,700 2,717 2,719 2,730 2,736 2,744 2,749 
			 867 Bracknell Forest 30 30 31 32 32 33 33 33 33 
			 846 Brighton and Hove 56 56 56 56 56 56 58 58 61 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 184 185 185 185 185 190 192 195 199 
			 845 East Sussex 156 156 156 156 156 156 155 155 155 
			 850 Hampshire 430 433 434 437 437 438 438 439 439 
			 921 Isle of Wight 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 
			 886 Kent 466 470 474 474 475 476 476 475 474 
			 887 Medway 85 86 88 88 89 90 89 89 88 
			 826 Milton Keynes 90 91 89 88 86 86 84 86 84 
			 931 Oxfordshire 233 233 234 234 233 233 234 233 233 
			 851 Portsmouth 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 
			 870 Reading 37 37 37 38 38 38 39 39 39 
			 871 Slough 27 27 27 29 29 29 30 31 31 
			 852 Southampton 61 63 63 63 64 65 65 67 69 
			 936 Surrey 314 318 319 323 324 324 327 327 328 
			 869 West Berkshire 66 66 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 
			 938 West Sussex 240 242 242 249 249 249 249 250 248 
			 868 Windsor and Maidenhead 45 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 
			 872 Wokingham 51 52 52 52 53 54 54 54 55 
			
			   South West 1,940 1,954 1,974 1,981 1,985 1,991 1,992 1,999 2,005 
			 800 Bath and North East Somerset 63 64 68 68 68 68 69 69 69 
			 837 Bournemouth 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 28 
			 801 Bristol, City of 111 118 118 118 118 119 119 121 123 
			 908 Cornwall 238 239 241 242 243 245 245 245 244 
			 878 Devon 318 318 321 322 323 323 323 324 323 
			 835 Dorset 136 137 138 138 139 139 138 138 138 
			 916 Gloucestershire 250 250 252 252 252 252 254 254 254 
			 420 Isles of Scilly 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 
			 802 North Somerset 66 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 66 
			 879 Plymouth 76 76 78 78 78 79 79 80 80 
			 836 Poole 28 29 29 30 30 30 30 30 30 
			 933 Somerset 223 223 224 224 223 223 224 224 224 
			 803 South Gloucestershire 96 96 96 98 98 98 98 97 100 
			 866 Swindon 67 67 67 67 66 66 66 70 71 
			 880 Torbay 32 32 33 33 33 33 33 33 34 
			 865 Wiltshire 208 212 216 218 220 219 217 217 217 
		
	
	
		
			1998  1997 
			   England 18,312 18,392 
			 
			   North East 994 1,000 
			 841 Darlington 38  
			 840 Durham 251 289 
			 390 Gateshead 77 79 
			 805 Hartlepool 30 30 
			 806 Middlesbrough 48 49 
			 391 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 77 78 
			 392 North Tyneside 57 57 
			 929 Northumberland 143 143 
			 807 Redcar and Cleveland 54 54 
			 393 South Tyneside 57 58 
			 808 Stockton-on-Tees 65 66 
			 394 Sunderland 97 97 
			 
			   North West 2,780 2805 
			 350 Bolton 105 105 
			 351 Bury 70 70 
			 875 Cheshire 425 429 
			 909 Cumbria 299 300 
			 340 Knowsley 62 63 
			 888 Lancashire 597 597 
			 341 Liverpool 166 171 
			 352 Manchester 160 168 
			 353 Oldham 101 102 
			 354 Rochdale 76 76 
			 355 Salford 87 88 
			 343 Sefton 93 93 
			 342 St Helens 62 62 
			 356 Stockport 106 107 
			 357 Tameside 79 80 
			 358 Trafford 76 76 
			 359 Wigan 114 116 
			 344 Wirral 102 102 
			 
			   Yorkshire and Humber 1,984 1,991 
			 370 Barnsley 88 90 
			 380 Bradford 165 165 
			 381 Calderdale 89 90 
			 371 Doncaster 113 113 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 135 135 
			 810 Kingston-Upon-Hull 80 80 
			 382 Kirklees 153 153 
			 383 Leeds 245 245 
			 812 North East Lincolnshire 65 65 
			 813 North Lincolnshire 69 71 
			 815 North Yorkshire 328 328 
			 372 Rotherham 112 114 
			 373 Sheffield 149 149 
			 384 Wakefield 131 131 
			 816 York 62 62 
			 
			   East Midlands 1,751 1,754 
			 831 Derby 81  
			 830 Derbyshire 363 448 
			 856 Leicester City 86  
			 855 Leicestershire 228 332 
			 925 Lincolnshire 289 289 
			 928 Northamptonshire 269 268 
			 891 Nottinghamshire 417 417 
			 857 Rutland 18  
			 
			   West Midlands 1,971 1,979 
			 330 Birmingham 332 332 
			 331 Coventry 89 89 
			 332 Dudley 82 82 
			 884 Hereford and Worcester 281 282 
			 333 Sandwell 107 111 
			 893 Shropshire 210 210 
			 334 Solihull 69 70 
			 860 Staffordshire 319 407 
			 861 Stoke 88  
			 335 Walsall 102 102 
			 937 Warwickshire 200 200 
			 336 Wolverhampton 92 94 
			 
			   Eastern 2,132 2,130 
			 820 Bedfordshire 147 215 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 263 263 
			 881 Essex 581 577 
			 919 Hertfordshire 427 428 
			 821 Luton 68  
			 926 Norfolk 390 391 
			 935 Suffolk 256 256 
			 
			   London 1,927 1,943 
			   Inner London 745 755 
			 202 Camden 42 42 
			 201 City of London 1 1 
			 204 Hackney 57 58 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 37 37 
			 309 Haringey 74 76 
			 206 Islington 54 56 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 26 26 
			 208 Lambeth 70 76 
			 209 Lewisham 70 70 
			 316 Newham 64 64 
			 210 Southwark 73 72 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 76 76 
			 212 Wandsworth 60 60 
			 213 Westminster 41 41 
			   Outer London 1,182 1,188 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 51 52 
			 302 Barnet 91 90 
			 303 Bexley 64 64 
			 304 Brent 59 60 
			 305 Bromley 78 78 
			 306 Croydon 96 97 
			 307 Ealing 65 66 
			 308 Enfield 65 66 
			 203 Greenwich 70 72 
			 310 Harrow 55 55 
			 311 Havering 71 71 
			 312 Hillingdon 68 69 
			 313 Hounslow 64 64 
			 314 Kingston-upon-Thames 37 37 
			 315 Merton 49 49 
			 317 Redbridge 52 53 
			 318 Richmond-upon-Thames 39 39 
			 319 Sutton 43 42 
			 320 Waltham Forest 65 64 
			 
			   South East 2,754 2,765 
			 846 Brighton and Hove 61  
			 825 Buckinghamshire 201 285 
			 845 East Sussex 155 218 
			 850 Hampshire 439 563 
			 921 Isle of Wight 46 46 
			 886 Kent 564 564 
			 826 Milton Keynes 85  
			 931 Oxfordshire 234 239 
			 851 Portsmouth 53  
			 852 Southampton 69  
			 936 Surrey 328 330 
			 869 Berkshire 272 273 
			 938 West Sussex 247 247 
			 
			   South West 2,019 2,025 
			 800 Bath and NE Somerset 69 69 
			 837 Bournemouth 28  
			 801 City of Bristol 132 132 
			 908 Cornwall 244 245 
			 878 Devon 437 439 
			 835 Dorset 138 195 
			 916 Gloucestershire 255 257 
			 420 Isles of Scilly 4 4 
			 802 North Somerset 66 67 
			 836 Poole 30  
			 933 Somerset 225 225 
			 803 South Gloucestershire 99 99 
			 866 Swindon 72  
			 865 Wiltshire 220 293 
			 (1) Local authorities listed for each year.  Note: Due to local government reorganisation between 1998 and 1999 local boundaries are not comparable throughout.

Primary Education: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of children who completed Key Stage 2 with adequate levels of literacy and numeracy; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Levels of literacy and numeracy in primary school leavers are most commonly measured by the proportions of children gaining National Curriculum level 4 and above in English and mathematics, since these represent the expected national standard. Children who reach Level 3 of the National Curriculum are assessed as having effective skills in English and mathematics and can demonstrate a good standard of reading and mental addition and subtraction. They are able to read a range of texts accurately independently, tackle unfamiliar words, discuss their mathematical work and begin to explain their thinking. Children achieving Level 4 have access to more complex forms of language and more complex ideas. They develop their own strategies for solving problems and are using these strategies both in working within mathematics and in applying mathematics to practical contexts.
	Achievement of the target Level 4 provides children with a solid foundation in learning from which to access the full secondary curriculum—79 per cent. of pupils who achieved Level 4 (in a combination of English, Mathematics and Science) at Key Stage 2 in 2002 went on to get five or more good GCSEs in 2007.
	The Department's new Public Service Agreements published as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in October 2007 have a dual focus on ensuring that pupils reach the levels expected for their age in both English and mathematics (threshold targets) and improving the rates of progress made by pupils from ages 5-16 (new progression targets) with increased attention to achieving faster progress for underachieving groups such as children in care and minority ethnic pupils. The progression targets will be a major factor in helping all pupils—regardless of their background and circumstances—to realise their potential in English and mathematics in particular.
	Information on the attainment of pupils in Key Stage 2 English and mathematics tests since 1994-1995 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Pupil attainment in Key Stage 2 English tests: 
			   Percentage of pupils at each level 
			   A  T/D  B  N  W( 1)  1( 1)  2  3  4  5  6( 1)  Total  % at Level 3 or above  % at Level 4 or above 
			 1995 4 0 — 0 0 1 7 39 41 7 0 100 88 49 
			 1996 3 0 — 2 0 1 6 30 45 12 0 100 87 57 
			 1997 3 0 4 2 — — 1 26 48 16 0 100 89 63 
			 1998 2 0 4 2 — — 1 26 48 17 0 100 91 65 
			 1999 2 0 3 2 — — 1 20 48 22 0 100 91 71 
			 2000 2 0 3 2 — — 1 17 46 29 0 100 92 75 
			 2001 1 1 3 2 — — 1 17 46 29 0 100 92 75 
			 2002 1 1 3 2 — — 1 17 46 29 0 100 92 75 
			 2003 1 1 3 2 — — 1 16 48 27 — 100 91 75 
			 2004 1 0 4 2 — — 1 14 50 27 — 100 92 78 
			 2005 1 0 4 2 — — 1 14 52 27 — 100 93 79 
			 2006 1 0 4 1 — — 1 14 47 32 — 100 93 79 
			 2007 1 0 4 1 1 — 1 13 47 34 — 100 93 80 
		
	
	
		
			  Pupil attainment in Key Stage 2 Mathematics tests: 
			   Percentage of pupils at each level 
			   A  T/D  B  N  W( 1)  1( 1)  2  3  4  5  6( 1)  Total  % at Level 3 or above  % at Level 4 or above 
			 1995 4 0  5 0 1 7 37 31 12 0 100 82 45 
			 1996 3 0  2 0 1 5 34 40 1 0 100 88 54 
			 1997 3 0 3 2 — — 2 28 44 18 0 100 90 62 
			 1998 2 0 3 3 — — 1 31 42 17 0 100 90 59 
			 1999 2 0 3 2 — — 1 23 45 24 0 100 92 69 
			 2000 2 0 3 2 — — 1 21 47 24 0 100 93 72 
			 2001 1 0 2 2 — — 1 22 45 25 0 100 93 71 
			 2002 1 1 2 2 — — 1 20 46 27 0 100 93 73 
			 2003 1 1 3 2 — — 1 19 44 29 — 100 92 73 
			 2004 1 0 3 2 — — 1 19 43 31 — 100 93 74 
			 2005 1 0 3 2 — — 1 18 44 31 — 100 93 75 
			 2006 1 0 3 2 — — 1 17 43 33 — 100 93 76 
			 2007 1 0 3 2 — — 1 16 45 32 — 100 93 77 
			 (1) Levels Wand 1 were valid in 1995 and 1996 only. Level 6 was valid from 1995 - 2002 only. A represents pupils who were absent. T represents pupils working at the level of the assessment but unable to access the test. D represents pupils disapplied from teacher assessment. B represents pupils who were assessed by teacher assessment only. N represents pupils who took the tests but failed to register a Level. W represents pupils who are "working towards" Level 1 but have not yet achieved the standards needed for Level 1.   Note:  Data cover all schools entering pupils for KS2 tests.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what the average expenditure from the public purse was per pupil on  (a) primary,  (b) secondary and  (c) pre-school education in each parliamentary constituency in the North West in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the average public expenditure per pupil on education was in each parliamentary constituency in the North West in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The available information is contained within the tables. There are two breaks in the time series because of changes to data collection: 1999-2000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the CLG (formally ODPM) to the section 52 form from the DCSF (formally DFES). 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) to schools and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the blank columns. Local government reorganisation (LGR) took place during the mid to late 1990s and those LAs that did not exist either pre or post LGR are shaded out for those years.
	
		
			  (a) Pre-primary and primary school based expenditure per pupil for 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			  £ 
			   School based expenditure per pupil in local authority maintained pre-primary and primary schools 
			  Local authority name  1997-98  1998-99   1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  North West and Merseyside LAs 
			 Blackburn and Darwen — 1,840  2,120 2,410 2,750  — — — — — 
			 Blackpool — 1,690  1,890 2,210 2,450  — — — — — 
			 Bolton 1,750 2,000  2,030 2,290 2,560  — — — — — 
			 Bury 1,490 1,640  1,800 2,040 2,220  — — — — — 
			 Cheshire — 1,770  1,790 1,900 2,100  — — — — — 
			 Cumbria 1,860 1,880  2,070 2,270 2,550  — — — — — 
			 Halton — 1,870  2,090 2,130 2,630  — — — — — 
			 Knowsley 1,700 1,870  2,120 2,350 2,580  — — — — — 
			 Lancashire — 1,820  1,980 2,220 2,530  — — — — — 
			 Liverpool 1,660 1,840  1,980 2,580 2,860  — — — — — 
			 Manchester 1,620 1,740  1,950 2,280 2,680  — — — — — 
			 Oldham 1,650 1,820  2,100 2,190 2,630  — — — — — 
			 Pre LGR Cheshire 1,710 —  — — —  — — — — — 
			 Pre LGR Lancashire 1,670 —  — — —  — — — — — 
			 Rochdale 1,680 1,770  1,960 2,270 2,570  — — — — — 
			 Salford 1,560 1,630  2,010 2,380 2,630  — — — — — 
			 Sefton 1,590 1,670  1,850 2,080 2,290  — — — — — 
			 St. Helens 1,600 1,700  2,030 2,240 2,470  — — — — — 
			 Stockport 1,570 1,750  1,890 2,230 2,410  — — — — — 
			 Tameside 1,590 1,720  1,650 2,010 2,500  — — — — — 
			 Trafford 1,580 1,710  1,840 2,220 2,400  — — — — — 
			 Warrington — 1,740  1,900 1,990 2,250  — — — — — 
			 Wigan 1,520 1,610  1,920 2,340 2,500  — — — — — 
			 Wirral 1,600 1,810  1,840 2,060 2,450  — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Primary school based expenditure per pupil for 1999- 20 00 to 2006-07 
			  £ 
			   School based expenditure per pupil in local authority maintained primary schools 
			  Local authority name  1997-98  1998-99   1999- 20 00  2000-01  2001-02   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  North West and Merseyside LAs 
			 Blackburn and Darwen — —  2,000 2,260 2,560  2,540 2,730 2,910 3,170 3,360 
			 Blackpool — —  1,870 2,200 2,390  2,370 2,660 2,880 3,130 3,340 
			 Bolton — —  2,000 2,260 2,500  2,410 2,620 2,760 3,010 3,200 
			 Bury — —  1,780 2,010 2,180  2,220 2,460 2,660 2,850 3,000 
			 Cheshire — —  1,780 1,880 2,060  2,340 2,540 2,640 2,880 3,190 
			 Cumbria — —  2,050 2,240 2,550  2,560 2,740 2,870 3,180 3,360 
			 Halton — —  2,030 2,110 2,560  2,580 2,740 2,910 3,260 3,430 
			 Knowsley — —  2,120 2,300 2,510  2,620 2,850 3,010 3,230 3,330 
			 Lancashire — —  1,950 2,160 2,450  2,520 2,780 2,900 3,160 3,300 
			 Liverpool — —  1,970 2,540 2,770  2,720 2,970 3,100 3,260 3,610 
			 Manchester — —  1,920 2,250 2,650  2,740 2,930 3,030 3,220 3,420 
			 Oldham — —  2,040 2,090 2,500  2,430 2,600 2,740 2,930 3,220 
			 Pre LGR Cheshire — —  — — —  — — — — — 
			 Pre LGR Lancashire — —  — — —  — — — — — 
			 Rochdale — —  1,900 2,100 2,420  2,370 2,760 2,910 3,190 3,450 
			 Salford — —  1,990 2,300 2,560  2,480 2,830 2,920 3,110 3,350 
			 Sefton — —  1,840 2,050 2,240  2,530 2,830 2,980 3,130 3,330 
			 St. Helens — —  2,000 2,190 2,410  2,500 2,590 2,790 2,990 3,220 
			 Stockport — —  1,860 2,180 2,370  2,260 2,460 2,720 2,900 3,130 
			 Tameside — —  1,640 1,970 2,420  2,480 2,610 2,750 2,930 3,160 
			 Trafford — —  1,830 2,190 2,360  2,250 2,390 2,500 2,650 2,850 
			 Warrington — —  1,880 1,980 2,220  2,270 2,510 2,630 2,830 3,000 
			 Wigan — —  1,900 2,330 2,480  2,400 2,620 2,780 3,030 3,250 
			 Wirral — —  1,810 2,030 2,400  2,520 2,640 2,730 2,960 3,190 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Secondary school based expenditure per pupil for 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			  £ 
			   School based expenditure per pupil in local authority maintained secondary schools 
			  Local authority name  1997-98  1998-99   1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  North West and Merseyside LAs 
			 Blackburn and Darwen — 2,470  2,750 2,960 3,260  3,300 3,710 4,070 4,360 4,680 
			 Blackpool — 2,260  2,420 2,750 3,030  2,880 3,370 3,690 4,010 4,130 
			 Bolton 2,330 2,480  2,630 2,840 3,140  3,010 3,440 3,660 3,950 4,410 
			 Bury 2,160 2,330  2,500 2,650 2,810  2,900 3,240 3,540 3,840 4,040 
			 Cheshire — 2,360  2,490 2,450 2,890  2,990 3,280 3,460 3,760 4,060 
			 Cumbria 2,500 2,570  2,600 2,800 3,300  3,290 3,540 3,630 4,050 4,180 
			 Halton  2,470  2,650 2,620 3,380  3,440 3,690 4,040 4,590 4,650 
			 Knowsley 2,260 2,650  2,880 3,060 3,190  3,590 3,880 4,100 4,570 4,760 
			 Lancashire — 2,450  2,550 2,740 3,070  3,060 3,360 3,610 3,940 4,150 
			 Liverpool 2,370 2,460  2,610 3,390 3,720  3,630 3,840 3,960 4,180 4,780 
			 Manchester 2,450 2,560  2,800 3,080 3,480  3,770 4,030 4,190 4,390 4,770 
			 Oldham 2,300 2,490  2,650 2,850 3,320  3,380 3,790 4,070 4,300 4,560 
			 Pre LGR Cheshire 2,310 —  — — —  — — — — — 
			 Pre LGR Lancashire 2,400 —  — — —  — — — — — 
			 Rochdale 2,400 2,430  2,560 2,930 3,220  3,230 3,640 3,850 4,140 4,530 
			 Salford 2,330 2,380  2,770 3,150 3,510  3,300 3,730 4,000 4,270 4,560 
			 Sefton 2,360 2,420  2,550 2,800 3,090  3,320 3,720 3,960 4,230 4,440 
			 St. Helens 2,270 2,390  2,680 2,830 3,170  3,340 3,630 4,000 4,200 4,430 
			 Stockport 2,110 2,330  2,460 2,820 3,040  2,890 3,130 3,370 3,790 3,980 
			 Tameside 2,190 2,290  2,300 2,500 2,930  2,930 3,260 3,480 3,740 4,000 
			 Trafford 2,300 2,570  2,620 2,920 3,170  3,130 3,330 3,570 3,810 4,120 
			 Warrington — 2,330  2,490 2,660 2,910  3,030 3,400 3,560 3,840 4,090 
			 Wigan 2,310 2,420  2,600 2,830 3,130  3,130 3,460 3,710 3,960 4,340 
			 Wirral 2,360 2,450  2,550 2,820 3,170  3,290 3,640 3,920 4,130 4,430 
		
	
	
		
			  Combined local authority and school based expenditure per pupil by local authorities in the North West and Merseyside region for  1997-98 to 2006-07 
			  £ 
			   Combined local authority and school based expenditure per pupil 
			  Local authority name  1997-98  1998-99   1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  North West and Merseyside LAs 
			 Blackburn and Darwen — 2,910  2,990 3,210 3,520  3,620 3,990 4,240 4,850 5,100 
			 Blackpool — 2,570  2,630 2,760 3,140  3,240 3,750 4,200 4,540 4,660 
			 Bolton 2,500 2,740  2,680 2,900 3,190  3,330 3,750 4,010 4,300 4,600 
			 Bury 2,440 2,550  2,640 2,770 2,980  3,070 3,550 3,790 4,220 4,450 
			 Cheshire — 2,700  2,690 2,830 3,140  3,320 3,580 3,760 4,150 4,480 
			 Cumbria 2,800 2,920  2,700 2,830 3,230  3,430 3,980 4,140 4,350 4,760 
			 Halton — 2,730  2,840 2,730 3,360  3,500 4,180 4,470 4,920 5,020 
			 Knowsley 2,540 2,780  2,910 3,180 3,340  3,620 4,090 4,350 4,660 4,920 
			 Lancashire — 2,830  2,750 2,880 3,210  3,260 3,870 4,030 4,540 4,630 
			 Liverpool 2,660 2,840  2,920 3,400 3,780  3,870 5,070 4,940 5,160 5,440 
			 Manchester 2,810 3,020  3,090 3,360 3,840  3,820 4,570 4,710 4,930 5,410 
			 Oldham 2,480 2,670  2,770 2,950 3,310  3,510 3,900 4,090 4,350 4,540 
			 Pre LGR Cheshire 2,560 —  — — —  — — — — — 
			 Pre LGR Lancashire 2,690 —  — — —  — — — — — 
			 Rochdale 2,580 2,660  2,650 2,930 3,190  3,340 4,040 4,270 4,680 5,010 
			 Salford 2,720 2,820  2,830 3,050 3,370  3,450 4,080 4,360 4,720 5,260 
			 Sefton 2,690 2,770  2,760 2,950 3,270  3,480 3,840 4,080 4,340 4,680 
			 St. Helens 2,570 2,750  2,790 2,990 3,310  2,760 3,880 4,200 4,400 4,610 
			 Stockport 2,430 2,650  2,580 2,830 3,040  3,090 3,430 3,720 4,010 4,290 
			 Tameside 2,400 2,540  2,600 2,850 3,200  3,250 3,630 3,760 4,020 4,370 
			 Trafford 2,490 2,690  2,640 2,900 3,190  3,300 3,610 3,410 3,850 4,360 
			 Warrington — 2,310  2,510 2,700 2,960  3,200 3,450 3,550 3,910 4,110 
			 Wigan 2,480 2,670  2,640 2,840 3,190  3,420 3,760 4,000 4,250 4,530 
			 Wirral 2,590 2,770  2,790 3,010 3,380  3,690 3,930 4,080 4,360 4,720

Schools: Inspections

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the current Ofsted inspection cycle is for schools; how this varies for high and low performing schools; what plans there are to change the inspection cycle; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The current school inspection cycle began in September 2005. Ofsted is required to inspect each maintained school by 1 August 2009 and, following that inspection, to inspect each such school within three school years from the end of the school year in which the last inspection took place.
	Within the cycle, the frequency of inspection is determined by Ofsted. Schools that are judged to require significant improvement are subject to a monitoring visit, which takes place between six and eight months after the relevant inspection, followed by a full inspection after a year. Those schools judged to require special measures receive termly monitoring visits until they are removed from this category. However, if they remain in special measures for two years they will be re-inspected at that point. In addition, some schools that are judged by Ofsted to be satisfactory overall but with underperformance in some areas of their work receive a monitoring visit between 12 and 18 months after the inspection.
	The inspection cycle and other aspects of the school inspection arrangements from September 2009 are currently under review by the Department and Ofsted.

Schools: Sports

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much  (a) National Lottery funding and  (b) Government funding school sport received in each year since 2003-04 for which figures are available, expressed in 2007-08 prices.

Kevin Brennan: A breakdown of Exchequer funding and Big Lottery investment in England into PE and school sport from 2003-04 to 2007-08 (adjusted to 2007-08 prices) is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  Lottery  DCSF/DCMS Funding 
			 2003-04 155 116.6 
			 2004-05 353.7 166.3 
			 2005-06 78.9 210 
			 2006-07 31.5 260.4 
			 2007-08 21.5 266.5 
			 Total 640.6 1,019.8

Sure Start Programme: Internet

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of the Sure Start budget was spent on updating the Sure Start website in each year for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: The Department spent £71,316 of the £1,329,016,000 Sure Start budget on updating the Sure Start website during the 2006-07 financial year. During the 2007-08 financial year the Department spent £82,834 of the £1,650,397,000 Sure Start budget on updating the website.

Sure Start Programme: Internet

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department and its predecessors spent on updating the Sure Start website in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The Department spent £55,375 on editorial resources and £15,941 on enhancing and developing the Sure Start website during 2006-07, so totalling £71,316 for that financial year. During 2007-08 the Department spent £63,305 on editorial resources and £19,529 on enhancing and developing the website, so totalling £82,834 for that financial year.
	Disproportionate costs would be incurred in sourcing and supplying information prior to the 2006-07 financial year.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Caleb McCarry

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which representatives of his Department met Mr Caleb McCarry on his recent visit to the UK; and what subjects were discussed at those meetings.

Meg Munn: Representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Americas Directorate met US-Cuba Transition Co-ordinator, Caleb McCarry, on 15 April 2008 during his recent visit to London. They discussed issues of mutual interest concerning Cuba.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to his Department has been of appealing against freedom of information requests submitted by Nicholas Gilby (EA/2007/71/78/79), including to the Information Tribunal; and how much has been paid to counsel representing his Department.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not lodged any appeals against any decisions made about freedom of information requests submitted by Nicholas Gilby. Mr. Gilby did, however, appeal three decisions made by the Information Commissioner in relation to his requests for FCO papers that had previously been transferred to the National Archives, which went before the Information Tribunal in March 2008. The FCO does not hold information on the total costs to the taxpayer of Mr. Gilby's appeals in these cases.

European Union: Festivals and Special Occasions

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what events his Department has planned to mark Schuman Day on 9 May 2008.

Jim Murphy: As has been the case in previous years, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London has no events planned to mark Europe Day on 9 May. The FCO's network of missions across Europe do participate in Europe Day events in their host countries, respecting local circumstances.

Iran: Human Rights

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent  (a) assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Iran and  (b) discussions he has had with the Government of Iran on human rights.

Kim Howells: Iran's overall human rights record is poor. We have a number of concerns about human rights violations in Iran, including the increasing use of the death penalty (and its continued use for juvenile offenders) and the growing restrictions on any form of dissent or organised protest. Human rights defenders, women's rights activists, trade unionists, non-governmental organisation workers and students continue to face pressure including intimidation, questioning, arrests and sentences on charges of 'acting against national security' or 'propaganda against the system'. Newspapers and magazines are regularly closed down and websites blocked for criticising the Government or crossing red lines. Iran's failure to live up to its commitments under the international human rights conventions it has signed up to is particularly disappointing.
	We remain committed to supporting international human rights standards in Iran and regularly raise our concerns with the Iranian authorities. We usually raise human rights issues with the Government of Iran through the EU, in order to maximise impact and emphasise that our concerns are shared across a range of countries. So far this year the EU has raised human rights issues with the Iranian authorities at least seven times in meetings and made public statements on a number of issues including individual death sentences, the treatment of members of the Baha'i faith, detained human rights defenders and students, and the draft Islamic penal code. We also discuss human rights issues bilaterally with Iranian officials. Most recently, on 6 March, I issued a statement calling for the release of two detained trade unionists in Iran, and on 1 April I called in the Iranian ambassador to raise our concerns about articles of the draft penal code that would make apostasy punishable by death.

Iran: Oil

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on investments in Iranian oil and gas; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The UK would prefer a more positive relationship with the Iranian Government including a constructive trade and investment relationship, but Iran has continued to act in ways that make this difficult to achieve. In particular, they have failed to comply with successive UN Security Council Resolutions. We have made clear that it cannot be business as usual and will continue to pursue a dual track approach, involving further sanctions and at the same time encouraging the Iranians to take up the E3+3's generous offer, which we are currently refreshing, as a basis for negotiations. On 17 April, during his visit to the US, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that the UK would seek measures to act against investment in Iran's Liquefied Natural Gas sector. This is one of several options currently under discussion within the EU.

Iran: Sanctions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions were reached at the 16 April meeting of the diplomatic political directors of China, the United States, Russia, the UK, France and Germany in Shanghai on  (a) negotiations with,  (b) sanctions against and  (c) revisions to the 6 June 2006 E3+3 proposals on Iran; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Discussion among the political directors from the E3+3 in Shanghai focused on how best to refresh the June 2006 offer that we made to Iran, as the other Foreign Ministers in the E3+3 and I made clear we would do in our statement marking the passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1803 on 3 March 2008. We have made it clear to Iran that our offer of dialogue remains, but that if Iran continues to refuse to comply with the demands of the international community, we will pursue further sanctions, in line with our dual-track policy of pressure and engagement.

Kosovo: Politics and Government

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received consequent upon the Government's recognition of the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo.

Jim Murphy: The Serbian Government have made clear, both orally and in writing, their disagreement with the UK on recognition of Kosovo's independence.

Malaysia: Military Decorations

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of Malaysia on the right of British veterans to wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal.

Meg Munn: The Malaysian authorities have raised this issue with us both in London and Kuala Lumpur.
	The Permanent Secretary at the Malaysian Ministry of Defence has raised the matter with our High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib raised the issue of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal with my right hon. Friend the then Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, in November 2006. There were also earlier representations at an official level, both in London between the Malaysian High Commission and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and between senior Malaysian officials and our High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia: Military Decorations

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what opportunity the Malaysian authorities were given to express their opinion in consultation before the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals decided that veterans could accept but not wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal.

Meg Munn: There were a number of contacts with the Malaysian High Commission on the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal, and the British rules on the acceptance and wear of foreign medals were fully explained.

Military Decorations

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals has ruled that a medal awarded by a foreign Government may be accepted but not worn by British veterans in the last 30 years.

Meg Munn: The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee) recommended in 2006 that veterans should be allowed to accept but not wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal. Similar exceptions were made for the Kuwait and Saudi Arabian Medals following the first Gulf War. Second World War veterans who served in Greece may receive campaign medals from the Greek Government (Greek War Medal and War Star) but permission has not been given to wear the medals. There may be further examples over the last 30 years, but the HD Committee's usual practice is not to recommend acceptance of foreign medals.

Military Decorations

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries award medals to British service  (a) personnel and  (b) veterans; and whether their recipients in each instance are permitted to wear the medal.

Meg Munn: Two countries (the US and Canada) have recently awarded medals to British service personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unrestricted permission to accept and wear foreign awards can be granted to British service personnel on exchange, attachment or loan to a foreign state, who are involved in a military operation or emergency on behalf of that state. The same applies to British service personnel serving in a UK unit in a bilateral force under the command of another country, who render special service to that country's forces in a military operation or emergency. This is consistent with both the five-year rule and the double-medalling rule, which are important in the British honours system.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the 2006 review of Chevening scholarships which he has placed in the Library was the same review of scholarship funding to which he referred in his written ministerial statement of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 22-4WS, on Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships and fellowships.

Jim Murphy: The 2006 review of Chevening scholarships was the first of several reviews which led to the changes in Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) scholarships announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 13 March. There was an external review of Marshall scholarships completed in February 2007 and a formal internal review of Chevening fellowships completed in September 2007. In the context of the development of its new strategic framework, the FCO looked again at scholarship and fellowship funding in late 2007.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 22-4WS, on Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships and fellowships, whether he has undertaken separate assessments of the Chevening, Commonwealth and Marshall scholarship programmes.

Jim Murphy: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 13 March, several reviews led to the changes in Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) scholarships. There was a review of Chevening scholarships in 2006, an external review of Marshall scholarships completed in February 2007 and a formal internal review of Chevening fellowships completed in September 2007. In the context of the development of its new strategic framework, the FCO looked again at scholarship and fellowship funding in late 2007.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written Ministerial statement of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 22-24WS, on Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships and fellowships, what comparative analysis he has made of his Department's engagement with alumni of his Department's scholarship schemes, including  (a) Commonwealth scholarships,  (b) Chevening and  (c) Marshall programmes; and whether his remarks in the statement on this matter related to all three schemes.

Jim Murphy: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 13 March, we have not consistently done enough to build the personal relationships with the scholars which we need to get the most out of these schemes. This applies to all three schemes, and as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also said, we are working hard to improve the ways in which we build links with scholars right from the start of the selection process.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written Ministerial statement of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 22-24WS, on Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarships and fellowships, whether his statement, that his Department had pursued high numbers of scholars which had sometimes reduced focus on quality, applied to each scholarship and fellowship scheme.

Jim Murphy: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 13 March, we found a number of weaknesses in our scholarship schemes. But those weaknesses did not apply equally to all our schemes. The pursuit of numbers, which sometimes led to a reduced focus on quality, is a point which applied to the selection of some Chevening scholars.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his statement of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 22-4WS, on FCO scholarships and fellowships, that his Department has not always maintained contact with alumni, applied equally to  (a) Commonwealth,  (b) Chevening and  (c) Marshall scholarships.

Jim Murphy: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 13 March,  Official Report, columns 22-24WS), we have not consistently done enough to build the personal relationships with the scholars which we need to get the most out of these schemes. This applies to all three schemes, but as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also said, we are working hard to improve the ways in which we build links with scholars right from the start of the selection process.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has assessed the steps taken by the  (a) Commonwealth scholarship,  (b) Chevening scholarship and  (c) Marshall scholarship programmes in maintaining contact with alumni.

Jim Murphy: The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) maintains good contact with Commonwealth scholarship alumni and we would like to work with the CSC to develop links between Chevening and Commonwealth alumni. The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission and our US posts maintain good contact with Marshall alumni through the Association of Marshall Scholars in the US. In recent years we have done much to re-establish links with Chevening alumni. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 13 March, we are working hard to improve the ways in which we build links with all scholars right from the start of the selection process.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to monitor the treatment of  (a) Christians,  (b) Ahmadiyyas and  (c) other religious minorities in Pakistan following the recent elections in that country.

Kim Howells: The UK supports freedom of religion and condemns instances where individuals are persecuted because of their faith or belief. With our EU partners, we have raised our concerns over the situation of religious minorities in Pakistan and the frequent abuse of the blasphemy legislation. Since the elections, we have continued to meet with representatives of minority organisations both in London and Islamabad to monitor the treatment of minorities and inform policy. Our high commissioner in Islamabad recently met Pakistan's Minister for Education, who also has responsibility for minority affairs. We will continue to monitor the situation and raise concerns about the treatment of minorities with the Government and encourage reform or repeal of discriminatory legislation through the National Assembly.
	We endorse the recommendations made by the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) in its report of 16 April 2008 which stress the need for increased participation of minorities in the election process. A comprehensive and well-harmonised plan of action to support democratic institutions in Pakistan will flow from these lessons, taking full account of the EOM recommendations.
	The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is undertaking a Universal Periodic Review on the human rights records of a number of countries including Pakistan in May. The UK is participating in this dialogue and will raise the treatment of minorities during the process.
	We will continue to encourage Pakistan to fulfil commitments under the UNHRC. We welcome Pakistan's decision to ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the Convention against Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. We look forward to early implementation of these instruments which we believe should safeguard the rights of minorities in Pakistan.

Simon Mann

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances the Government have been refused consular access to Simon Mann in Black Beach Prison, Equatorial Guinea; what steps were taken by the Government in response on each occasion; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 30 April 2008
	Our consul from the British deputy high commission in Lagos was refused consular access to Simon Mann during his last visit to Equatorial Guinea in March. Since then the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and our posts in Nigeria, which also cover Equatorial Guinea, have been taking this issue forward with the Equatorial Guinea authorities. Simon Mann's welfare remains our primary concern.

Simon Mann

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request his US counterpart to seek regular access to Simon Mann in Black Beach Prison, Equatorial Guinea, on behalf of the Government.

Kim Howells: holding answer 30 April 2008
	Our consular officials are seeking consular access to Simon Mann through the Equatorial Guinea authorities. Our deputy high commission in Lagos keeps in close touch with the US embassy in Equatorial Guinea, but our priority at present is to gain access for our own consular officials.

Simon Mann

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provisions of international law apply to the granting by Equatorial Guinea to another country of consular access to one of its citizens held in prison.

Kim Howells: holding answer 30 April 2008
	Both the UK and Equatorial Guinea are party to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Article 36 provides for consular officers of one state party to communicate and have contact with its nationals in another state party to facilitate the exercise of consular functions. Article 36(l)(c) provides that
	consular officers shall have the right to visit a national of the sending state who is in prison, custody or detention, to converse and correspond with him and to arrange for his legal representation.

Tibet: Politics and Government

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the situation in Tibet; and what steps he has taken to express the Government's concerns to the Chinese government.

Meg Munn: We remain concerned about the situation in Tibet. We regularly raise our human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities and continue to urge full compliance with international human rights obligations including; rights to freedom of association, expression, religion, access to fair trial and respect for prisoners' fundamental rights. We have urged the Chinese authorities to exercise maximum restraint in dealing with any further unrest in the Tibetan region. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown raised issues of human rights in Tibet during their meetings with Chinese leaders at the Economic Financial Dialogue from 14 to 16 April.

USA: Cuba

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts his Department has had with the United States Cuba Transition Co-ordinator in each of the last five years.

Meg Munn: Officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) held meetings with the US-Cuba Transition Co-ordinator during his visits to London in July 2005 and April 2008. In addition FCO staff at our embassy in Washington have regular contact with colleagues at the US State Department including those dealing with Cuban policy issues.

USA: Cuba

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the purpose was of the recent visit to his Department by Caleb McCarry; whom Mr McCarry met; what was  (a) discussed and  (b) agreed; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Americas Directorate met US-Cuba Transition Co-ordinator, Caleb McCarry, on 15 April 2008 during his recent visit to London. They discussed issues of mutual interest concerning Cuba and agreed that the meeting had been a useful exchange of views.